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BY  PETER  ROSEGGER. 


THE   GOD  SEEKER. 

A  Tale    of   Old    Styria.     Authorized   English 
version  by  FRANCES  E.  Skinner.     12°,  $1.50. 

THE  FOREST  SCHOOLMASTER. 

Authorized   English   version   by  Frances  E. 
Skinner.     12°,  $1.50. 


G.  P.  Putnam*s  Sons 

New  York  London 


The 
God  Seeker 


A  Tale  of  Old  Styria 


By  Peter  Rosegger 

Author  of"  The  Forest  Schoolmaster,"  etc. 


Authorized  Translation 
by 

Frances  E.  Skinner 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

New  York  and  London 

Sbe  ftniclterbocfter  press 

1 901 


Copyright,  iqoj 

BY 

FRANCES  E.  SKINNER 
W,  H,  C.  CO, 


t 


e) 


o 


.''  ^' 


PREFACE 


THE  principal  events  of  TAe  God  Seeker  arfi 
founded  on  historical  facts.  In  the  year  1493^ 
in  a  remote  part  of  the  Styrian  Alps,  the  little  vil- 
lage of  Trages  Was  excommunicated  from  th6 
Church  and  outlawed  for  a  crime  committed  by  one 
member  of  the  parish. 

It  seems  almost  incredible  that  an  entire  coiii- 
munity  could  be  made  to  suffer  for  the  crime  of  one 
person.  In  an  age,  however,  when  the  Catholic 
Church  wielded  such  tremendous  power,  and  when 
superstition  frequently  took  the  place  of  justice, 
— as  was  the  case  when  the  "  Vehmic  Law"  and 
"  The  Judgment  of  God  "  were  resorted  to, — it  is 
^-jc^  not  surprising. 

A  few  years  ago  Herr  Rosegger,  accompanied  by 
his  two  young  sons,  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  valley 
of  the  God  Seeker,  where  the  village  of  Tragos  stiH 
stands,  with  its  old  church,  now  restored  and  re- 
established as  a  place  of  worship.  Here  relics  of 
the  crime  committed  four  hundred  years  ago  are 
preserved.  To-day  the  village  has  become  a  centre 
J  for  Alpine  tourists,  and  there  are  few  traces  left  of 

t^  the  unhappy  period  through  which  the  inhabitants 

-^  passed  when,  their  God  having  been   taken    from 

vi)  them,    they  were   ruled    by  their   own    misguided 

natures. 

The  Translator. 


CONTENTS 

PAGB 

Book      I. — The  Crime i 

Book    II. — Godless ipx 

Book  III. — The  Expiation 373 


/ 


BOOK  I 
THE  CRIME 


^E 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  narrator  of  this  story,  who  now  takes  you 
by  the  hand  to  wander  with  you  through  a 
region  wild  and  gloomy,  and  in  our  day  utterly  un- 
known, leads  you  at  first  up  the  Johannesberg. 
This  mountain  rises  in  the  form  of  a  cone  in  the 
midst  of  a  wilderness  which  creeps  far  up  its  sides, 
where  among  the  broken  rocks  flourish  the  barberry 
and  the  black  alder,  the  hemlock  and  the  true-love. 
In  the  clefts  above  the  falcon  builds  its  nest  and  on 
the  ground  beneath  circles  and  glides  the  adder. 
The  mountain  is  not  so  high  as  many  of  its  neigh- 
bours, but  upon  its  summit  is  a  barren  spot  where 
no  green  thing  will  grow.  If  at  some  time,  after  a 
thousand  springs,  a  flower  should  bloom  on  this 
sterile  bit  of  land,  then,  according  to  the  legend, 
the  kingdom  of  God  would  be  established  in  the 
earth. 

Here,  where  the  sandy  ground  is  covered  with 
greenish  lichens,  may  be  seen  a  huge,  grey  rock 
marked  by  a  blood-red  stain,  which  no  rain  can 
wash  out  and  no  ice  can  erase. 

Surrounding  the  Johannesberg,  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach,  is  a  wide  stretch  of  forest  land,  extend- 
ing to  the  lower  slopes  of  the  Ritscher,  the  Birstling, 

3 


4  The  God  Seekef 

and  the  Tarn.  This  forest — and  no  tree,  or  bush, 
or  plant  exists  irt  the  northern  hemisphere  that  is 
not  found  therein— spreads  like  a  vast  sea  over  the 
mountain  tops,  over  the  valleys  and  ravines^  On,  on 
into  the  distance,  where  the  blue  dome  of  heaven 
with  its  fringe  of  snowy  clouds  sinks  into  the  hori- 
:zon.  But  towards  the  north,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  wide,  dark  valley,  called  Trawies,  towers  a  wall 
■of  rocky  cliffs,  their  gi'ey,  jagged  edges  sharply  out- 
lined against  the  sky,  their  crevices  marked  by  lines 
of  gleaming  white.  Here  begins  a  mountain  range 
quite  unknown  to  us,  as  it  was  also  unknown  to  the 
people  who  once  inhabited  this  region,  struggling 
with  and  at  last  succumbing  to  an  evil  fate.  It  is 
called  the  Trasank.  From  out  its  rocky  caverns 
gushes  forth  a  thundering  stream,  which  tearing 
along  on  its  wild  journey  tells  us  much  of  the  ma- 
jestic grandeur  of  the  mountains  whence  it  derives 
its  source.  The  Trach — as  this  river  is  named — 
now  digs  its  way  through  the  narrow  valleys  and 
gloomy  ravines,  on  through  the  forests,  absorbing 
into  itself  innumerable  little  streams  and  brooks, 
until  at  last  it  reaches  the  barren  heathland,  which 
shuts  off  the  region  of  Trawies  from  all  the  outside 
world. 

A  large  part  of  this  tract  of  land  is  primeval 
forest.  Its  owner,  a  wealthy  nobleman,  who  lives 
far  below  in  a  city  by  the  sea  and  who  has  never 
seen  the  rocks  of  the  Trasank,  has  left  it  in  its  wild 
state,  uncared  for  and  neglected.  Only  in  the  lower 
parts  of  the  Trawies  basin  is  the  forest  in  its  prime. 
Where  it  stands  to-day,  flourished  many  years  ago 


The  Crime  5 

a  small  parish.  At  the  time  of  the  migration  of  the 
nations,  when  the  Germanic  races  were  scattered 
between  the  Alps  and  the  Baltic,  a  handful  of  peo- 
ple took  up  their  abode  in  this  wilderness;  they 
settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Trach,  ploughed  and 
built,  gradually  becoming  bound  by  ties  of  affection 
to  each  other  and  to  their  own  race,  now  developing 
under  more  favourable  circumstances.  They  sub- 
mitted to  one  common  law  and  enjoyed  the  bless- 
ings of  a  community.  Trawies  became  a  mountain 
parish,  like  many  others  in  the  region.  Upon  a 
rocky  eminence  in  the  valley  of  the  Trach,  facing 
the  sun  and  surrounded  by  a  luxuriant  growth  of 
underbrush,  still  stand  the  ruins  of  the  little  church 
in  which  the  people  of  Trawies  for  generations  back 
had  so  often  lifted  their  hearts  in  prayer  to  God, 
and  where  at  last  they  were  overtaken  by  their  most 
horrible  doom. 

Even  to  this  day  everyone  avoids  its  crumbling 
walls,  and,  with  the  exception  of  bold  hunters,  peo- 
ple pass  much  against  their  wills  through  the  forests 
of  Trawies.  And  he  who  is  obliged  to  do  so  hastens, 
for  in  every  shadow  he  sees  a  ghost,  in  every  gleam 
of  light  shimmering  through  the  branches  he  im- 
agines the  camp-fire  of  some  robber  band.  Those 
dwelling  in  the  outlying  districts  fear  the  mists  that 
rise  over  Trawies,  crossing  themselves  whenever 
storms  from  that  direction  descend  upon  them. 
Floods  have  often  broken  loose  from  this  ill-famed 
forest,  destroying  the  land,  as  if  it  continued  to  rest 
under  the  curse  which  long  ago,  in  wrath  and  in- 
dignation, was  pronounced  upon  the  narrow  valley 


6  The  God  Seeker 

of  Trawies,  arousing  to  a  white  heat  the  infuriated 
passions  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  which  at 
last  on  that  fateful  day,  from  the  summit  of  the 
Johannesberg,  ascended  in  pure  flame  to  the  skies 
and  was  then  extinguished. 


CHAPTER    II 

SINCE  time  immemorial  the  people  of  Trawies 
had  celebrated  Midsummer  Day  by  a  curious 
festival,  one  striking  feature  of  which  was  that  no 
church  bells  were  allowed  to  ring.  For  this  reason, 
on  the  preceding  evening  the  bell-ropes  were  drawn 
up  and  wound  about  the  clapper.  Even  the  church 
service  was  omitted  on  this  day,  for  the  priest  also 
took  part  in  this  "  Festival  of  the  Forefathers." 
At  that  small  hour  of  the  night  which,  like  a  tiny 
drawbridge,  unites  yesterday  with  to-day,  three 
men  were  walking  through  the  dewy  valley  of  the 
Trach,  singing  the  following  song: 

Fair  Midsummer  Day  is  come  ! 

The  blessed  day ! 

The  golden  day  ! 

Arise, 

Arise  at  the  dawn's  first  ray  ! 

From  graves  emerging, 

From  slumbers  holy. 

The  guests  beloved  assemble  slowly. 

Awaken,  awaken, 

The  sun  joy  is  giving, 

Oh  drink  ye,  my  brothers, 

At  this  fount  ever  living. 

Fire  and  light  our  God  doth  make, 

Awake !  Awake  ! 


8  The  God  Seek( 


< 


And  behold:  in  the  scattered  houses  of  Tr^wier 
were  movement  and  life ;  the  people  came  forth  and 
assembled  on  the  green,  oak-shaded  burial-ground, 
where,  beneath  the  sod,  they  had  laid  their  dead  to 
rest,  and,  seeking  the  graves  of  their  dear  departed 
ones,  they  repeated  these  words:  "  My  father,  I 
waken  thee!"  or:  "  My  brother,  I  waken  thee: 
Holy  Midsummer  Day  is  here!  "  J^And  the  friendly 
stars  shone  down  upon  them  from  the  sky,  while 
many  a  dreamer  of  Trawies  gazed  heavenward  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  Him  Who  with  His  strong  arm 
will,  on  this  day,  lift  the  sun  even  to  His  eternal 
brow,  then  cast  it  again  into  space. 
y-  From  the  graveyard  the  people  ascended  to  a  field 
called  the  Midsummer  Meadow.  All  were  con- 
scious of  the  presence  of  their  beloved  dead,  whom 
they  had  awakened  and  invited  to  celebrate  with 
them  this  merry  feast. 

They  now  lighted  a  great  fire  from  a  spark  which 
had  descended  to  them  from  ancient  times.  It  had 
always  been  the  custom,  before  extinguishing  the 
festal  flames,  for  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  re- 
spected inhabitants  of  Trawies  to  take  a  glowing 
ember  from  this  ancestral  fire  back  to  his  house, 
where  from  year  to  year  it  was  most  sacredly 
preserved.  The  fire  guardian,  as  this  man  was 
called,  was  exempt  from  tithes  and  taxes,  and  in 
seasons  of  illness  the  people  would  fetch  a  burning 
coal  from  his  hearth,  to  purify  their  houses  with  the 
smoke  from  the  sacred  fire./  At  the  time  this  story 
opens,  the  dignified  office  of  fire  guardian  was  held 
by  a  man  whose  house  stood  by  the  river  Trach, 


The  Crime  9 

He  clung  With  great  tenacity  to  the  traditions  of 
the  past,  thus  maintaining  his  purity  of  heart  and 
strength  of  \purpose.  He  was  the  most  powerfully 
built  man  in  Trawies;  his  name  was  Gallo  Weiss- 
bucher.  In  the  springtime,  when  in  the  valley  of 
the  Trach  the  seed  was  sprouting  in  the  brown 
earth,  the  people,  with  an  ember  from  the  ancestral 
fire,  would  light  piles  of  brushwood  on  the  borders 
of  their  fields,  that  the  smoke  might  float  over  the 
fertile  soil  and  ward  off  disasters  from  their  harvests. 
/-And  thus  the  fire  was  lighted  which  burned  upon 
the  meadow  on  this  day.  Gathered  about  it,  the 
people  chanted  weird  songs,  that  gradually  became 
more  animated,  then  even  boisterous,  and  at  last, 
as  the  sun  reddened  the  western  sky,  rent  the  air 
with  their  wild  uproar.  For  mead  was  drunk  as 
an  accompaniment  to  the  roasted  game,  and  cider 
flowed  in  streams,  quickening  the  pulses  of  the 
youths  and  maidens  who  formed  in  circles  for  the 
dance,  and  far  and  wide  the  forests  of  Trawies  re- 
echoed with  the  shouting  upon  the  Midsummer 
Meadow.  The  invited  dead  seemed  to  play  but  a 
small  part  in  these  festivities,  and  as  the  day  drew 
to  a  close,  when,  according  to  custom,  they  should 
have  been  accompanied  back  to  their  quiet  resting- 
places,  many  a  young  pair  forgot  this  sacred  duty, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  restless  spirits  of  the  neglected 
guests  would  then  hover  an  entire  year  about  their 
thoughtless  young  relatives. 

Since  time  immemorial  the  Midsummer  Festival 
had  been  thus  celebrated  in  Trawies.  )^ 

On  these  occasions  it  was  the  custom  for  the  fire 


10  The  God  Seeker 

guardian  to  make  a  speech  at  high  noon  under  the 
spreading  oak-trees.  It  was  his  first  duty  to  as- 
sure his  audience  that  the  ancestral  fire  had  been 
sacredly  preserved  throughout  the  entire  year,  and 
that  it  was  a  spark  from  that  spark  which,  in 
olden  times,  their  forefathers  had  received  from  the 
"  White  Lady  "  in  the  German  forests.  The  speaker 
then  reviewed  the  year  just  past,  enumerated  the 
deaths,  the  births,  and  the  marriages;  he  also  men- 
tioned the  most  prominent  deeds  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Trawies,  whether  good  or  evil.  So  to  some  it 
came  to  be  a  day  of  exaltation ;  to  others,  a  day  of 
judgment.  Reference  was  finally  made  to  the 
bonds  which  united  them  to  the  rulers  of  the  land, 
and  it  was  shown  that  in  spite  of  the  great  isolation 
of  this  mountain  parish,  its  loyalty  was  genuine  and 
its  obedience  to  the  laws  of  the  community  exemp- 
lary, so  long  as  these  laws  did  not  interfere  with  the 
old-time  traditions  of  these  denizens  of  the  forest. 

But  now  a  new  master  had  come  to  Trawies, 
called  Pater  Franciscus.  Like  his  predecessors  he 
occupied  the  large  stone  house  upon  the  rocky  emi- 
nence near  the  church.  He  was  small  and  squarely 
built,  but  the  expression  of  his  eyes  displeased  the 
inhabitants  of  Trawies  from  the  very  first.  He  was 
seldom  seen  in  his  priestly  garb,  and  he  contracted 
a  habit  of  visiting  the  various  houses  to  ascertain  the 
amount  of  worldly  goods  possessed  by  the  inmates, 
taxing  them  according  to  his  own  estimate  of  their 
value.  He  was  also  known  to  have  frequently  al- 
lowed the  bells  for  prayers  for  the  dying  to  ring  in 
vain,  while  he  stood  fishing  by  the  river  Trach,  or 


The  Crime  ii 

wandered  about  with  hunters  in  the  forest.  He 
forbade  the  people  to  cut  wood  or  to  graze  their 
goats  in  the  hunting  preserves.  Previously  they 
had  been  accustomed  to  bring  their  festival  meats 
directly  from  the  forest,  or  to  utilise  the  game  for 
the  skins.  But  this  the  new  master  now  proscribed 
and  more  strictly  than  all  the  seven  deadly  sins  to- 
gether. The  people  of  Trawies  during  the  long  and 
happy  period  preceding  this  story  had  entirely  for- 
gotten that  they  belonged  body  and  soul  to  their 
spiritual  and  worldly  rulers,  who  appropriated  the 
income  from  the  parish,  partly  for  their  own  use, 
partly  for  the  support  of  a  convent  far  away  among 
the  hills.  The  new  priest  reminded  them  of  this 
fact  in  a  most  marked  manner.  They  groaned  un- 
der the  burden  and  cursed.  The  cursing  was  not 
forbidden,  for  the  priest  well  knew  that  cursing 
lightens  the  spirits  of  slaves,  while  placing  no  obli- 
gation upon  the  master.  He  considered  that  for- 
esters were  intended  for  beasts  of  burden,  and  that 
the  people  of  Trawies  were  quite  able  to  endure 
whatever  he  thought  fit  to  impose  upon  them.  He 
at  last  issued  the  following  order:  "  The  heathenish 
celebration  and  feast  on  Midsummer  Day  must 
cease  for  all  time." 

This  went  to  the  very  hearts  of  these  woodspeo- 
ple.  But  the  fire  guardian  exclaimed:  "  No  one 
shall  ever  be  able  to  say  over  my  grave:  '  He  who 
lies  here  allowed  the  sacred  flame  to  be  extin- 
guished !  '  It  is  not  on  account  of  the  tithes  and 
taxes — these  I  will  pay  according  to  my  means;  but 
from  the  ancestral  fire  which  is  in  my  care  shall  my 


12  The  God  Seeker 

funeral  candles  be  lighted  when  I  enter  into  ever- 
lasting rest!  " 

"  Well  spoken,  forsooth!"  answered  the  men. 
But  when  on  the  following  Midsummer  Day  they 
began  the  celebration  by  awakening  the  dead,  the 
priest  appeared  suddenly  in  their  midst;  not  with 
the  cross,  as  Boniface  once  appeared  among  the 
heathen,  but  with  a  gun,  his  finger  on  the  trigger. 
The  men  had  no  fear  of  the  weapon,  but  they  dared 
not  further  defy  the  commands  of  their  master, 
whom  they  had  always  been  accustomed  to  obey. 
So  they  dispersed,  the  fire  guardian  taking  with  him 
the  sacred  embers. 

"  Stop !  What  are  you  carrying  off  in  that  pan  ?  " 
demanded  the  priest.  "  Throw  the  coals  into  the 
water  at  once." 

The  fire  guardian  started  on  a  run,  the  priest  fol- 
lowing with  weapon  raised.  The  former,  being  an 
old  man,  saw  that  he  could  not  escape  his  pursuer. 

"  You  may  burn  me  with  your  hell-fire,"  he 
shouted,  "  but  this  sacred  flame  you  shall  not  de- 
stroy! "  His  house  was  close  by  and  he  hastened 
towards  it. 

'*  Very  well,"  laughed  the  priest;  "  but  fire  can- 
not be  concealed." 

As  the  fire  guardian  perceived  that  he  could  not 
save  his  holy  trust  by  any  other  means,  he  sprang 
into  his  barn  and  threw  the  burning  coals  upon  the 
straw.  When  the  priest  reached  the  spot  the  man 
had  disappeared  and  the  place  was  in  flames.  Both 
house  and  barn  were  burned  to  the  ground.  The 
lire  guardian  beheld  his  possessions  vanish  in  the 


The  Crime  13 

glow  of  the  ancestral  fire.  A  strong  wind  de- 
scended from  the  Trasank,  fanning  the  flames, 
carrying  them  high  into  the  air  and  over  into 
the  neighbouring  woods.  There  they  roared  and 
crackled,  and  when  the  morning  sun  rose,  it  shone 
red  and  dim  through  the  cloud  of  smoke  floating 
over  the  burning  forest.  All  Trawies  was  abroad  in 
jubilant  excitement,  working  with  picks  and  spades 
to  fight  the  fire. 

At  evening,  when  the  last  trees  in  that  part  of  the 
forest  where  the  flames  were  confined  had  fallen 
with  a  crash,  each  inhabitant  carried  a  burning  torch 
into  his  house  and  laid  the  same  upon  his  hearth, 
thus  preserving  an  inexhaustible  store  of  ancestral 
fire. 

The  following  year,  on  the  day  before  the  celebra- 
tion, a  small  number  of  men  assembled  at  the  house 
of  the  forest  keeper,  Baumhackel,  to  take  counsel 
concerning  their  Midsummer  Festival.  The  house 
stood  at  the  end  of  a  narrow  valley,  about  an  hour's 
distance  from  the  church.  This  valley,  called  the 
Wildwiese  (the  wild  meadow),  may  be  known  to-day 
by  a  waterfall,  plunging  over  a  rocky  terrace  be- 
tween gigantic  fir-trees  at  the  foot  of  which  is  a 
huge  hollow  basin  in  the  form  of  a  kettle,  whence, 
at  the  time  of  this  story,  a  path  led  up  to  Baum- 
hackel's  little  hut. 

One  of  the  older  men  addressed  the  others  with 
these  words:  ''  That  which  we  are  about  to  discuss, 
men  of  Trawies,  is  a  solemn  matter.  Above  in  the 
clouds  dwells  the  God  of  Thunder,  watching  over 
us.     With  his  hand  of  iron  he  hurls  the  lightning 


14  The  God  Seeker 

down  to  the  earth,  and  that  he  may  not  strike  our 
houses  or  destroy  our  forests  with  its  shafts,  he  re- 
quires of  us  this  feast  of  the  sun.  The  great  god 
Upon  his  chariot  of  thunder,  drawn  by  two  black 
rams,  and  the  whole  army  of  our  sacred  dead,  borne 
upon  boars  and  upon  fiery  steeds,  approach,  de- 
manding the  festal  day." 

The  mysterious  words  of  the  old  tradition  aroused 
the  men  and  they  all  cried:  "A  Midsummer 
Festival!  " 

When,  after  some  deliberation,  they  had  arranged 
to  celebrate  it  this  year  upon  the  Wildwiese,  one  of 
the  men  suggested  that  the  priest  must  be  pre- 
vented from  attending. 

"  By  force  ?" 

"  By  cunning." 

"  Mein  Gott,  Isidor,  that  sounds  strangely  from 
your  lips." 

"  How  it  sounds  depends  upon  your  ears;  but  I 
say  we  have  no  use  for  the  priest  at  our  festival." 

"  I  say  so,  too!  " 

"  And  I!" 

"  I  also!  " 

"  Good,  so  say  we  all.  But  how  does  that  help 
matters  ?  " 

"  If  the  men  of  Trawies  are  determined,  and 
stand  by  one  another,  does  that  amount  to  no- 
thing? " 

"You  're  right,  Isidor;  I  should  advise  him  not 
to  interfere  with  us  this  time.  There  's  something 
brewing  in  Trawies  for  our  priest." 

'*  That  I  '11  warrant,  comrades,  but  no  force  must 


The  Crime  15 

be  used.  I  tell  you,  it  needs  but  little  to  bring 
misfortune  upon  us.  '* 

A  man  called  Wahnfred  nodded  approvingly. 

"  Yes,  Wahnfred,  this  time  it  's  your  turn.  You 
live  in  the  Gestade,  down  by  the  river,  two  or  three 
hours  from  the  church,  in  the  opposite  direction 
from  the  Wildwiese.  On  Midsummer  Day  someone 
will  be  lying  in  your  house  at  the  point  of  death. 
Early  in  the  morning  the  priest  must  be  summoned 
to  come  at  once.     Do  you  understand  ?  " 

The  men  smiled  at  this  suggestion,  but  Wahnfred, 
expanding  his  broad  chest,  replied  :  "  May  God  pre- 
serve us  in  His  mercy,  but  that  shall  never  happen. 
In  my  house  there  shall  be  no  treachery." 

The  head  of  the  man  who  uttered  these  words 
rose  almost  defiantly  above  his  brawny  shoulders. 
His  face  was  paler,  more  delicate  in  colouring,  than 
those  of  the  other  men.  It  showed  little  exposure 
to  the  sun,  but  there  was  fire  in  the  large  eyes. 
The  cheeks  were  covered  with  a  light,  curly  beard, 
the  lips  were  red  and  strong  and  spoke  even  when 
silent.  The  brow  was  high  and  narrow,  smooth  and 
white  ;  the  reddish-brown  hair  was  combed  back  and 
fell  like  a  mane  over  his  shoulders.  His  appearance 
was  most  unusual  and  striking.  Some  traits  de- 
noted the  strength  of  a  Hun;  others,  an  excessive 
imagination  ;  but  he  might  also  have  been  a  savage, 
a  lion,  a  tiger.  There  are  people  whose  characters 
always  speak  like  an  oracle,  yet  who  are  never  un- 
derstood. Even  concerning  this  man's  age  one 
might  err  by  many  years ;  one  moment  he  seemed 
to  have  lived  more  winters  than  summers ;  the  next, 


1 6  The  God  Seeker 

one  would  say  he  had  seen  neither  winters  nor  au- 
tumns, but  only  springs,  and  of  these  a  great  num- 
ber. Some  such  description  of  Wahnfred  has  come 
down  to  us  from  the  old  chronicle.  His  dress,  like 
that  of  the  others,  consisted  of  a  coarse  linen  shirt, 
fastened  at  the  throat  with  a  black  tie,  breeches  of 
deer-skin,  close-fitting  white  woollen  stockings,  and 
a  long  brown  cloak.  Of  late  the  men  of  Trawies 
had  adopted  leather  shoes,  while  the  women,  in 
their  blue  linen  gowns,  went  about  barefoot  at  their 
simple  household  tasks.  The  men  wore  broad  felt 
hats  with  kettle-shaped  crowns,  the  brims  turned  up 
on  both  sides  and  fastened  with  a  white  bow.  On 
their  wanderings  through  the  forest  they  always 
carried  a  heavy  knife  at  the  left  side,  and  a  long 
iron-bound  stick,  for  there  were  many  wild  beasts 
in  the  region,  and  also  many  ravines  and  mountain 
torrents  to  be  crossed.  Such  was  the  appearance  of 
the  men  of  Trawies. 

"  In  my  house  shall  be  no  treachery,"  Wahnfred 
had  answered  with  composure.  Baumhackel  re- 
plied: "  You  're  not  the  only  one  who  lives  in  the 
Gestade.  My  brother.  Little  Baumhackel,  has  a 
house  in  that  neighbourhood  also,  and  we  will  have 
no  treachery  there  either,  but  he  will  sacrifice  him- 
self for  a  good  cause  like  this.  I  will  gladly  under- 
take to  have  my  brother,  Little  Baumhackel,  lying 
sick  unto  death  on  Midsummer  Day." 

"  That  is  friendly  of  you,"  replied  Isidor;  "  and 
so  with  God's  help,  we  shall  this  year  celebrate  our 
sacred  feast." 


CHAPTER   III 

UPON  the  various  paths  leading  up  to  the  Wild- 
wiese  might  have  been  seen  on  the  following 
night,  men  and  women  with  heavy  baskets  in  their 
hands  and  on  their  backs;  among  them  was  Baum- 
hackel  the  elder,  who  had  been  busy  with  prepara- 
tions, resolving  that  this  festival,  celebrated  in  such 
a  secluded  spot  of  the  wilderness,  and  all  the  more 
since  it  was  forbidden  and  must  take  place  in  secrecy, 
should  be  the  finest  and  merriest  they  had  ever  had. 
On  the  Sunday  previous,  the  priest,  Franciscus, 
had  made  the  following  announcement  from  the 
pulpit:  "  On  next  Tuesday,  the  Feast  of  St.  John, 
the  Martyr,  who  baptised  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ  in  the  river  Jordan,  will  be  celebrated 
in  our  church  by  all  good  Christians.  Solemn  mass 
will  follow  the  service,  and  the  children  of  the  par- 
ish, in  as  large  numbers  as  possible,  are  expected  to 
be  present.  During  the  high  mass  a  processional  will 
take  place  about  the  altar.  I  trust  that  you  will  all 
confess  Christ  by  your  presence.  Saint  John  the 
Baptist  purchased  with  his  blood  the  kingdom  of 
heaven ;  and  I,  as  a  conscientious  shepherd,  am  de- 
termined to  lead  the  stubborn  sheep,  by  force  if 
necessary,  into  the  fold  of  our  beloved  Lord." 

2 

17 


1 8  The  God  Seeker 

By  force  if  necessary!  How  strangely  these 
words  sounded  within  the  church  !  The  people  were 
terrified  and  knew  not  why.  But  it  was  not  the 
threat  which  frightened  them. 

On  the  morning  of  St.  John's  Day,  as  the  glow 
of  sunrise  appeared  in  the  sky,  Herr  Franciscus 
awoke  and  stretched  himself  comfortably  in  his 
warm,  well-made  bed.  His  life  had  not  always  been 
so  easy.  His  father,  a  harsh,  but  over-pious  bailiff, 
had  sent  him  from  the  rough,  though  merry  life  of 
a  country  squire  directly  into  a  monastery.  Here 
he  had  found  a  scanty  table,  but  an  abundance  of 
praying  benches,  and  instead  of  amusing  himself 
with  bird-snares,  there  was  the  rod  for  his  own 
back.  He  had  but  few  pleasures  and  many  pen- 
ances, for  the  rules  were  strict  and  the  prior  was 
severe.  A  thousand  pities  to  thus  waste  the  best 
years  of  life!  At  last  his  studies  were  at  an  end, 
and  he  was  sent  to  the  little  isolated  forest  parish  of 
Trawies.  The  place  suited  him  well,  and  he  now 
hoped  to  find  compensation  for  his  lost  pleasures. 
Here  he  was  master,  and  resolving  to  use  his  powers 
to  the  utmost,  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  forest 
peasants  should  wish  to  be  their  own  masters.  He 
simply  desired  to  live  on  good  terms  with  these  serfs 
and  ploughmen,  but  when  they  discovered  that  he 
demanded  more  of  them  than  his  predecessors  had 
done,  they  grumbled  and  became  defiant.  This  de- 
fiance, however,  only  awakened  that  of  the  priest, 
and  he  endeavoured  with  severity  and  by  force  to 
establish  harmony  between  himself  and  his  parish- 
ioners.     He  longed  for  peace,  and  for  a  happy  life 


The  Crime  19 

in  fellowship  with  the  people,  but  in  his  monas- 
tery cell  he  had  learned  too  little  of  human  nature 
to  reach  his  goal  by  gentle  measures,  therefore 
he  employed  extraordinary  ones;  nevertheless,  he 
stretched  himself  in  his  comfortable  bed,  thinking 
enviously  of  the  life  of  pleasure  led  by  others  in  the 
world  outside.  He  was  of  a  social  nature  and  could 
be  good  company  to  those  who  would  join  him  in 
hunting  and  in  cards;  the  priestly  office  was  a  mere 
side  issue.  He  did  not  ask  himself  whether  he  ful- 
filled these  duties  as  he  should,  for  had  he  not  been 
thrust  into  the  office  against  his  will  ?  He  spent 
little  time  over  the  parish  reports  to  be  regularly 
rendered  to  the  higher  authorities,  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  he  delivered  the  taxes  and  tributes  with 
greater  conscientiousness  than  his  predecessors  had 
ever  done.  Thus  he  counted  upon  a  long  and  easy 
life  in  the  valley  of  the  Trach. 

Some  such  thoughts  as  these  were  passing  through 
Herr  Franciscus'  mind  on  this  morning,  when  sud- 
denly a  knock  was  heard  at  the  parsonage  door. 
The  priest  did  not  stir,  but  the  sonorous  voice  of  a 
woman  called  from  a  window  above,  asking  what 
was  wanted.  Surely  that  heathenish  Midsummer 
Festival  was  not  taking  place  again ! 

"  Not  that,"  was  answered  from  below,  "  but 
Little  Baumhackel  is  dying,  and  for  God's  sake 
send  the  priest  at  once." 

Soon  the  priest  himself  appeared  at  the  window, 
demanding  what  ailed  the  young  man. 

"  We  think  he  has  a  stroke;  he  lies  quite  help- 
less— he  is  at  death's  door,  worthy  sir." 


20  The  God  Seeker 

"  Then  I  shall  be  of  no  use.     I  will  pray  for  the 
dying  man  at  mass.     You  go  home  now." 

I  beg  of  you  to  show  us  mercy  and  come.  We 
all  know  that  he  sets  so  much  store  by  a  priest,  and 
there  is  nothing,  not  even  a  Bible,  in  the  house. 
We  cannot  help  ourselves,  and  if  you,  worthy  sir, 
desert  us  also " 

The  priest  then  dressed  himself  with  a  wry  face, 
and  the  little  bell  that  always  accompanies  the 
sacred  wafer  resounded  softly  along  the  banks  of  the 
foaming  Trach.  No  wonder  that  so  few  people 
knelt  before  the  houses  by  which  the  priest  passed, 
for  it  was  still  early  in  the  morning;  and  it  was  also 
no  wonder  that  the  beds  in  the  houses  were  already 
empty,  for  it  was  after  midnight. 

Fair  Midsummer  Day  is  come  ! 

Fire  and  light  our  God  doth  make. 
Awake  !  Awake  ! 

The  song  had  long  since  died  away ;  the  people 
had  gone  in  the  direction  of  the  Wildwiese.  And 
a  curious  assemblage  it  was !  One  robust  lad  named 
Nantel  avoided  the  graveyard,  not  caring  to  waken 
his  old  cousin, — she  might  rest  undisturbed,  and 
his  god-father  also.  A  living  companion  appealed 
to  him  more.  So  Nantel  stopped  at  a  little  house 
which  he  was  passing,  rapped  on  a  side  window  and 
called:  "*  Midsummer  Day  is  come!  The  sun  joy 
is  giving.  Oh,  drink  at  this  fount  ever  living!" 
So  much  of  the  old  song  he  remembered. 


The  Crime  21 

Whoever  lived  here  did  not  wait  for  the  invita- 
tion to  be  repeated.  A  young  girl  soon  appeared, 
and  saucily  taking  the  arm  of  the  lad,  she  proceeded 
with  him  on  his  way. 

"  Hast  thou  brought  some  fire  along  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Save  thy  joking  for  another  time  and  beware 
lest  I  become  too  hot  for  thee." 

"  I  must  find  out  who  is  the  hotter.  But  I  say  if 
we  have  the  fire  within  ourselves,  why  do  we  take 
the  trouble  to  climb  up  to  the  Wildwiese?  Why  not 
sit  down  here  and  celebrate  Midsummer  Day  on  the 
grass  ? ' ' 

"  Oh,  Nantel,"  replied  the  girl,  "  cease  thy  trifl- 
ing with  such  sacred  things.  And  thou  knowest 
that  I  am  not  alone." 

He  stared  at  her,  his  face  turning  pale. 

"  Not — not  alone,  Josa  ?  " 

"  Late  last  night  I  was  up  in  the  graveyard  to 
waken  my  mother." 

"  Thy  mother,"  said  Nantel,  breathing  more 
freely;  "  oh,  oh,  thy  departed  mother.  That  's  all 
right,  Josa,  if  it  's  only  she,  that  's  all  right." 

And  they  reached  the  meadow  safely. 

Upon  another  footpath  two  topers  were  striding 
along. 

I  'm  going  to  try  it  any  way,"  whispered  one 
I  *m  going  to  try  it." 

It  '11  do  no  good,"  replied  the  other. 
"  Little  Baumhackel  told  me  it  was  true,  and  I 
believe  him." 

"  Give  it  here — let  me  read  it  again." 


<  < 

<  < 

t  < 


22  The  God  Seeker 

They  held  an  old  torn  paper  in  their  hands  and 
read:  'A  Tried  Remedy  to  Keep  People  from 
Waking:  Take  a  lock  of  maiden's  hair  for  a  wick 
and  dip  it  in  adder's  fat;  it  is  best  to  light  this 
candle  with  Midsummer  fire,  and  in  whatever  house 
the  burning  taper  is  placed,  will  no  man  or  woman 
awake." 

It  may  be  possible,"  remarked  the  one  who  had 
doubted  at  first. 

"  Baumhackel  had  fine  success  with  his  house- 
hold." 

"  You  don't  mean  it!  " 

"  Listen,  Roderich;  Baumhackel's  family  are 
great  eaters  and  he  was  worrying  about  the  coming 
Whitsunday,  when  all  wanted  the  best  and  were 
content  with  nothing." 

"  If  they  are  content  with  nothing,  I  should  call 
them  modest!  " 

"  You  don't  understand  me,  Roderich;  they  are 
not  satisfied  with  nothing,  that  is  to  say,  not  satis- 
fied with  something — oh,  I  have  it  now:  with  no- 
thing somewhat  satisfied." 

"  Don't  wear  yourself  out,  Uli;  you  mean,  there 
is  nothing  which  satisfies  them." 

"  That 's  it ;  and  Baumhackel  knew  that  on  Whit- 
sunday it  would  be  the  same.  What  do  you  sup- 
pose he  did  ?  " 

"  Took  his  stick  and  chased  them  out.  " 

"  Nonsense!  For  what  purpose  did  he  make  the 
candle  with  adder's  fat  and  maiden's  hair  ?  On  the 
eve  of  Whitsunday,  when  everyone  was  asleep,  he 
lighted  it  and  left  it  burning  all  the  next  day  until 


The  Crime  23 

far  into  the  night.  Not  a  soul  awoke  and  the 
whole  feast  was  spared." 

"  That  was  a  great  thing." 

**  That  was  nothing  at  alL  When  the  men  finally 
awoke  they  emptied  boxes  and  barrels  and  ate 
everything  they  could  lay  their  hands  on." 

"  That  might  have  been  avoided,  Uli;  one  would 
need  only  to  empty  the  boxes  and  barrels  one's  self 
while  the  people  were  asleep. " ' 

"You  're  right,  brother,  but  let  's  hurry  on  now 
and  get  a  torch  of  Midsummer  fire." 

And  they  reached  the  meadow  safely. 

By  still  another  route  a  group  of  men  were  as- 
cending the  hill.  Among  them — and  he  towered 
above  the  rest — was  Wahnfred.  He  thrust  his  stick 
into  the  earth  as  he  Valked,  taking  no  part  in  the 
conversation  in  which  the  others  were  excitedly 
engaged.  One  of  the  men  had  a  clean-shaven  face 
and  wore  a  new  hat.  He  was  leading  the  conversa- 
tion, at  which  art  he  seemed  something  of  an  ex- 
pert. He  followed  an  occupation  rare  in  those  days. 
Years  before  the  people  of  Trawies  had  availed 
themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  secure  a  lay- 
brother  from  the  monastery.  He  became  the  school- 
master of  Trawies  and  educated  the  children  in  the 
manner  required  of  him. 

"  Men  of  Trawies!  "  he  cried,  pausing  in  his  walk. 
"  Men  of  Trawies!  I,  the  old  teacher,  who  have 
educated  your  children  and  have  stood  by  you  in 
friendship  according  to  my  ability  and  my  experi- 
ence— I  would  advise  you  not  to  provoke  our  master! 


24  The  God  Seeker 

He  is  our  protector  and  spiritual  guide,  and  he  is 
placed  here  by  the  highest  authority." 

"  Schoolmaster,  this  time  we  know  better,"  inter- 
rupted Gallo  Weissbucher,  the  fire  guardian,  who  the 
year  before  had  sacrificed  his  house  to  save  the  an- 
cestral fire;  "  it  is  unjust  to  say  that  we  provoke 
our  master.  We  do  only  that  which  the  people  of 
Trawies  have  done  for  a  hundred  years  and  more. 
It  cannot  harm  us  to  hold  in  reverence  the  memory 
of  our  forefathers,  and  to  guard  as  a  sacred  legacy 
the  rites  and  customs  which  were  dear  to  them. 
Those  are  the  chains  that  bind  us  to  our  ancestors 
who  have  sown  and  suffered  for  their  posterity.  It 
does  not  concern  our  bodies,  transmitted  to  us  by 
them,  but  our  souls,  developed  in  us  by  their  long 
and  varied  experience.  We  will  not  have  these  souls 
dyed  and  turned,  as  you  dye  and  turn  your  old 
hat,  worn  to-day  by  the  master,  to-morrow  by  the 
slave.  The  tree  will  grow  by  itself,  and  if  one  now 
endeavours  to  change  us  by  force,  it  would  be  like 
separating  the  tree  from  its  roots  and  replanting  the 
trunk  in  the  soil.  We  are  willing,  however,  to  do 
for  our  master  all  that  is  just  and  much  that  is  un- 
just. 

"  It  is  no  longer  a  question  of  the  cursed  Mid- 
summer Festival." 

"  Scold  all  you  will,  schoolmaster,  but  on  a  few 
points  I  must  set  you  right.  The  priest  is  not  our 
protector — that  is  the  Emperor.  Nor  is  he  our 
spiritual  guide,  for  his  conduct  is  far  too  worldly. 
Money!  money!  the  bells  in  the  tower  ring  out  for 
him.     And   when  you  say  at  the  end   that   he   is 


The  Crime  i^ 

placed  here  by  the  highest  authority,  then,  with 
}'Our  permission,  you  utter  a  piece  of  nonsense. 
Our  superior  is  not  the  monastery  nor  its  patriarch. 
They  should  recall  this  priest  and  at  once.  That  is 
the  best  advice  we  have  to  give!  " 

"  Gallo  Weissbucher,"  replied  the  schoolmaster, 
"  you,  an  old  man,  and  so  hot  tempered!  Have 
you  not  yet  learned  Christian  meekness  ?" 

"  Not  from  our  priest." 

Do  you  wish  then  to  rebel  against  the  rulers  of 
the  Empire  ?  The  Bishop  has  for  sometime  been 
dissatisfied  with  the  parish  of  Trawies,  and  he  well 
knows  why  he  has  placed  such  a  strict  master  over 
you.  I  am  an  old  man,  a  native  of  Trawies,  and  I 
will  stand  by  you  as  long  as  I  live.  It  is  just  for 
that  reason  that  I  give  you  this  sincere  advice :  You 
are  the  weak  ones;  yield  with  Christian  submission, 
that  peace  may  once  more  reign  in  our  green 
woods." 

"  Then  I  should  like  to  know  why  you  are  wear- 
ing out  your  old  feet  climbing  up  to  the  Wildwiese ! "' 

"  Because  to-day,  for  the  first  time,  I  have  heard 
what  the  people  are  planning  to  do  up  there,  and 
because  I  wish  to  warn  them — warn  and  beg  of 
them  to  disperse  as  soon  and  as  quietly  as  possible. 
I  say  to  you:  do  not  become  rebels!  Whoever 
arouses  the  anger  of  a  priest  must  suffer  for  it.  Nor 
should  one  trifle  with  a  priest's  blessings." 

"  Curse  him!  Priests  always  bless  themselves 
first." 

"  Oh,  mein  lieber  Gott!  '"  sighed  the  schoolmaster. 

**  What  are  you  thinking  of  ?" 


^6  The  God  Seeker 

I  hardly  know,  but  I  feel  some  great  misfortune 
in  the  air." 

The  conversation  then  became  general  for  awhile. 
Only  Wahnfred  was  silent  and  walked  along  mo- 
rosely, striking  his  stick  upon  the  ground  with  every 
step. 

And  they  reached  the  meadow  safely. 

On  the  same  morning,  just  at  sunrise,  a  lad  was 
walking  along  the  banks  of  the  Trach.  He  was  a 
beautiful  boy.  "  The  sun  had  shone  upon  him 
scarce  twelve  years,  his  fine,  soft,  curly  hair  was 
golden;  the  blue  sky  and  morning  star  are  most 
lovely  to  look  upon,  but  when  I  gaze  into  the 
depths  of  this  boy's  eyes,  I  find  something  more 
indescribably  beautiful.  The  whitest  of  the  fleecy 
clouds  above  is  not  so  pure  as  his  brow  and  neck; 
the  morning  red  glows  less  brightly  than  his  cheeks, 
when  excited  by  childish  pleasure."  Such  is  the 
description  of  the  lad  in  the  old  chronicle,  which  to 
the  narrator  of  this  story  is  an  invaluable  source. 

The  boy  had  perhaps  started  thus  early  to  school, 
or  had  wished  to  be  present  in  the  graveyard  when 
the  grandfathers  and  great-grandfathers  were  being 
wakened  ;  he  had  many  questions  to  ask  them  about 
the  eagles  in  Trawies  in  former  times,  for  now  they 
were  nowhere  to  be  seen.  The  schoolhouse  was 
closed  and  the  graveyard  deserted,  but  an  old  man 
sitting  under  the  oak-trees  said,  "  They  have  all 
gone  up  to  the  meadows,  everyone." 

So  the  boy  wandered  again  along  by  the  river,  a 
coolj  moist  breeze  fanning  his  cheeks  as  he  walked. 


The  Crime  27 

He  searched  for  trout,  and  he  fiightened  the  wag- 
tails from  one  willow  branch  to  another,  his  won- 
derful eyes  glowing  as  he  gazed  after  the  little 
creatures.  In  the  midst  of  these  pleasures  of  the 
chase  he  heard  a  piteous  wailing.  He  looked  in  all 
directions,  but  the  roaring  of  the  water  nearly 
drowned  the  voice.  Then  he  discovered  a  child  ly- 
ing on  her  face  in  the  middle  of  a  narrow  bridge, 
clinging  tightly  to  it  and  weeping. 

The  boy  sprang  at  once  upon  the  bridge,  where 
the  little  creature — it  was  a  girl  of  eight  or  nine 
years — was  crying  piteously:  "  I  'm  falling!  I  'm 
falling!" 

"  Thou  wilt  not  fall,"  said  the  boy,  "  get  up  and 
hold  fast  to  me." 

"  I  'm  falling,  I  'm  falling!"  sobbed  the  child, 
holding  still  more  firmly  to  the  old  tree-trunk  that 
formed  the  bridge,  and  beneath  which  the  Trach 
was  dashing  over  huge  rocks,  foaming  and  roaring. 
Even  the  boy  grew  dizzy  and  reached  after  some 
support.  He  turned  his  eyes  away  from  the  rushing 
water  and  seizing  the  child  with  both  arms,  he  tore 
her  loose  from  the  log  and  sprang  with  his  treasure 
across  to  the  opposite  shore. 

When  she  found  herself  upon  the  grass,  the  girl 
raised  her  little  head,  brushed  back  the  brown  locks 
of  hair  from  her  face  with  her  small  hands,  her  eyes 
beaming  with  surprise  and  pleasure. 

"  What  wast  thou  doing  on  the  bridge — so 
early  ?  "  said  the  boy. 

"  I  was  afraid  of  falling,"    she  answered. 

"  But  why  didst  thou  climb  up  there  ? " 


28  The  God  Seeker 

Because  I  wanted  to  follow  my  father." 

"  Where  dost  thou  live  ?  " 

"  Yonder,  where  thou  seest  that  white  spot." 
And  she  pointed  towards  a  newly  built  house, 
gleaming  among  the  charred  trees  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  It  was  the 
house  of  Gallo  Weissbucher,  which  had  been  rebuilt 
for  him. 

Where  is  thy  father  ?  "  asked  the  boy,  with  an 
anxious,  tender  look  at  the  delicate  little  creature 
sitting  before  him  on  the  ground,  gazing  with  so 
much  confidence  into  his  face. 

**  My  father  has  gone  up  the  mountain." 

"  What  mountain  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  What  is  he  doing  up  there  ?  " 

"  Lighting  the  fire." 

**  Oh,  I  know  now.  If  thou  wouldst  like  to  go 
up,  I  will  go  with  thee," 

Shall  we  have  to  cross  a  bridge  ? " 

"  No,  it  is  up-hill  all  the  way.  Why  didst  thou 
lie  down  on  the  bridge  ?  " 

"  Because  it  went  round  and  round,  and  then 
flew  away  with  me. " 

"  Look,  look  it  is  coming!  See,  it  is  coming 
now !  "  whispered  the  lad  excitedly,  turning  his 
face  towards  the  distant  heights,  above  which  ap- 
peared the  disk  of  the  sun.  A  warm,  ruddy  glow 
suddenly  filled  the  valley  and  the  trees  cast  sharp 
shadows  upon  the  golden  earth. 

The  girl  did  not  look  at  the  sun,  it  was  too  bright 
for  her ;  she  looked  into  the  face  of  the  boy  and  her 


The  Crime  29 

eyes  were  comforted.  And  as  he  turned  to  witness 
her  pleasure  at  the  glorious  sight,  his  gaze  rested 
upon  her  and  he  said  softly  :  "  How  beautiful  is  the 
Midsummer  sun !  " 

Yes,  it  was  beautiful !  It  suffused  the  little  round 
face  of  the  girl  with  the  loveliest,  most  delicate 
pink.  *'  And  two  violets  grew  in  this  garden  of 
roses,"  says  the  chronicle.  But  how  can  one  com- 
pare a  human  eye  with  flowers!  This  wonder  of 
wonders  is  incomparable.  Let  the  reader  think 
of  the  most  beautiful  eyes  that  he  has  ever  seen 
in  a  child,  and  possibly  they  might  approach  in 
beauty  the  luminous  stars  which  shone  softly  like 

violets  in  this  garden  of  roses."  In  the  girl's 
eyes  were  reflected  the  sun's  orb  and  the  boy's  curly 
head,  which  bent  so  low  over  the  little  face  that  it 
finally  shut  out  the  light  from  the  tiny  mirrors. 

Imagining  that  they  heard  a  sound  in  the  dis- 
tance, the  boy  said :  "  That  is  the  music  up  on  the 
Wildwiese.     We  must  hurry." 

And  they  continued  their  climbing.  After  a  little 
the  boy  stopped  again.  "  Dost  thou  know  how  it 
is  ?  " 

"  What  ?"  asked  the  little  girl. 
How  the  sun  flies  up  and  down.  The  good 
God  and  the  evil  one  are  playing  ball  with  it.  And 
that  is  the  sun  ball.  Now  it  falls  into  God  s  hands 
and  it  is  day;  then  it  falls  into  the  hands  of  the 
evil  one  and  it  is  night.  My  father  says  that  on 
Midsummer  Day  the  devil  throws  the  ball  to  the 
highest  point  in  the  sky,  and  if  the  time  should  ever 
come  when  God  failed  to  catch  it,  it  would  fall  to 


^o  The  God  Seeker 

the  lowest  depths   and  there   would   be  ho   more 
day." 

The  girl  made  no  reply,  but  clung  timidly  to  the 
boy.  They  walked  hand  in  hand,  cautiously  pick- 
ing their  way  and  pointing  out  to  each  other  the 
smooth  places  on  the  rough,  stony  path,  which  at 
last  ceased  altogether  and  they  found  themselves  in 
the  high  heather,  the  girl's  head  barely  reaching 
to  the  top  The  boy  walked  ahead,  stamping  down 
the  weeds  as  best  he  could  ;  now  and  then  he  picked 
a  ripe  berry  and  put  it  into  the  little  girl's  mouth. 
Then  the  way  grew  almost  impassable.  The  children 
became  entangled  in  a  thicket  of  juniper  bushes  and 
extricated  themselves  with  difficulty,  for  the  thorns 
were  prickly,  but  neither  spoke  a  word.  The  boy 
knew  now  that  he  had  lost  his  path;  that  troubled 
them  little,  however,  for  they  were  aiming  for  the 
Wildwiese,  and  that  this  was  not  far  away  they 
were  convinced  by  the  music,  which  grew  more  and 
more  distinct.  Perceiving  that  the  girl  could 
scarcely  move  in  the  wild,  prickly  underbrush,  the 
boy  turned  and  said :  '  See  here,  little  one,  this  is 
the  road  to  heaven !  ' 

"  To  heaven  ?"  she  cried,  stopping  in  astonish- 
ment 

"  Yes,  because  it  is  so  thorny." 
'*  Why  is  the  path  to  heaven  thorny  ?  " 
"It  is  thorny,  because — why,  I  don't  know  my- 
self. I  will  ask  my  father.  And  didst  thou  know 
that  lightning  never  strikes  a  juniper-tree  ?  When 
our  Blessed  Lady  took  flight  into  Egypt  with  the 
Holy  Child  a  terrible  thunderstorm  arose,  and  our 


The  Crime  31 

Lady  took  refuge  under  a  juniper-tree,  which  since 
then  no  h'ghtning  ever  strikes." 

"  Oh,  dear,"  sighed  the  little  maid,  **  if  we  were 
only  with  my  father!  " 

At  last  they  approached  the  Wildwiese;  they 
heard  the  screaming  and  singing  of  the  people  and 
the  roaring  of  the  waterfall.  They  stood  close  be- 
side each  other  listening,  and  the  boy  said;  "  When 
thou  seest  thy  father,  thou  wilt  leave  me  and  I 
shall  be  alone." 

**  Then  thou  must  call  me  and  I  will  come  to  thee 
again,"  replied  the  child. 

**  How  can  I  call  thee  when  I  do  not  know  thy 
name  ? " 

"  My  name  is  Sela. " 

"  And  mine  is  Erlefried.  " 

The  children  then  separated  to  look  for  their 
fathers. 

They  found  them  standing  under  an  oak-tree, 
scolding  Little  Baumhackel,  who  should  have  been 
at  this  moment  lying  ill  at  the  point  of  death  over 
in  the  Gestade,  and  who  had  sent  for  the  priest  to 
bring  him  a  remedy  to  lighten  his  last  hours  of 
physical  pain  as  well  as  to  assure  him  everlasting 
life.  This  Little  Baumhackel,  for  whom  the  priest 
would  have  been  only  too  glad  to  make  hell  hot,  as 
he  was  always  the  quintessence  of  mischief  and  evil, 
this  Little  Baumhackel,  with  his  broad  shoulders, 
his  bushy  beard,  and  cone-shaped  head,  covered  by 
a  ragged  woollen  cap,  now  stood  gnashing  his 
teeth. 

Oh,  you  scoundrel!"  cried  the  fire  guardian, 


32  The  God  Seeker 

"  you  sent  for  the  priest  to  come  to  you  and  why 
did  you  not  stay  at  home  ?  " 

Because  it  was  so  stupid  lying  there  so  long." 

"  When  he  discovers  that  he  has  been  fooled  by 
you,  he  will  curse  your  house  and  come  straight  up 
here  to  the  Wildwiese.  Then  we  shall  have  the 
devil  to  pay.  And  what  but  your  foolishness  will 
be  the  cause  ?  " 

Don't  get  excited,  father  fire  guardian/'  re- 
plied Little  Baumhackel;  "  the  old  pauper  Lull  is 
lying  in  my  bed  and  is  so  kind  as  to  die  in  my  place. 
He  won't  have  much  trouble  doing  it  either;  truly, 
now,  Lull  has  been  dying  since  yesterday." 

'*  Silence!  Silence!  "  whispered  the  forest  keeper 
from  his  house.  The  reason  for  this  warning  was 
soon  discovered.  The  priest  was  there.  Suddenly 
he  appeared  in  their  midst,  and  with  the  utmost 
composure  inquired  for  the  fire  guardian. 

Leaning  with  great  dignity  on  his  staff  and  with 
earnest  mien,  he  approached  Weissbucher,  who 
came  forward  a  little  to  meet  him,  respectfully 
doffing  his  hat. 

"  Stop  that,"  said  the  priest;  "  why  should  you 
take  off  your  hat  to  a  Catholic  priest  ?  You  are 
nothing  but  heathen.  You  have  chosen  a  nice  way 
to  assemble  for  your  carousal,  for  your  witches' 
Sabbath.  Dancing  and  feasting  are  quite  fitting  for 
a  devil's  holiday.  Ha,  they  are  already  beginning 
it  over  there !  '  * 

He  pointed  to  the  feast  spread  before  the  com- 
pany, to  the  wild  circle  of  dancers  wWrling  madly 
about  upon  the  moss-covered  ground.     They  were 


The  Crime  33 

screaming  and  shouting,  but  amid  the  roar  of  the 
neighbouring  waterfall  not  a  word  could  be  under- 
stood. 

"  Oh,  oh,  you  modest  maidens,  dance  away'-  ' 

"  There  is  no  harm  in  it,  sir.  " 

''  When  Chastity  dances,  she  dances  in  glass  slip- 
pers. So  it  is  here  on  the  Wildwiese  that  you  brew 
your  sins  and  crimes!  "  remarked  the  priest  in  a 
voice  of  suppressed  rage. 

"  Sir,"  replied  the  fire  guardian,  "  you  have  long 
been  aware  that  the  people  of  Trawies  will  not  give 
up  their  old  customs,  and  that  the  more  obstacles 
you  place  in  their  way,  all  the  more  firmly  will  they 
cling  to  them.** 

"  Very  good,  we  shall  soon  see,  my  beloved 
Trawiesers,  who  is  the  stronger.  You  are  sly,  I  too 
can  be  sly.  While  on  my  way  to  the  Gestade,  it 
occurred  to  me  at  the  right  moment  that  I  should 
probably  be  needed  up  here  more  than  down  there 
— so  I  turned  back.  I  have  resolved  either  to  bend 
or  break  you.     I  am  your  master!  " 

"  God  pity  the  man  who  must  be  taught  by  his 
slaves!  "  said  Weissbucher  angrily. 

"You  blinded  ones!"  cried  the  priest.  "Be 
thankful  to  God  that  I  am  doing  my  priestly 
duty."      He  had  raised  his  arm,  but  let  it  fall  again. 

Little  Baumhackel  had  already  disappeared  be- 
hind a  tree,  and  now  his  brother,  the  forest  keeper, 
stepped  forward,  saying  boldly:  "Your  priestly 
duty  ?  Sir,  that  word  cannot  be  associated  with 
you.  Who  was  to-day  summoned  to  go  over  to  the 
Gestade  to  a  dying  man  ? " 


34  The  God  Seeker 

"  The  dying  will  take  care  of  themselves.  My  duty 
calls  me  to  the  living  who  are  on  their  way  to  hell." 

At  these  words  of  Herr  Franciscus,  Wahnfred  ap- 
proached and  said :  "  Were  you  not  told  that  a  man 
was  lying  at  the  point  of  death  and  desired  to  see 
you  ? 

"  He  who  does  not  heed  the  priest  during  life 
may  do  without  him  when  dying.  " 

"  But,  priest,  have  you  not  heard  of  Jesus  Christ 
who  pardons  the  repentant  and  takes  sinners  to 
Himself  ?  Do  you  then  know  nothing  of  pity  and 
mercy  ?  " 

All  at  once  the  priest  discovered  Little  Baum- 
hackel  gesticulating  wildly  behind  an  oak-tree. 
'■  Ah!"'  he  cried,  "  there  he  is,  my  poor,  dying 
man,  hiding  there  and  playing  tricks!  Do  you  see, 
you  rabble  ?  " 

But  Wahnfred  was  not  in  the  least  disconcerted 
by  this. 

"  Did  you  know  that  when  you  turned  back?  "  he 
asked.  "  No,  priest,  you  did  not  know  it  and  you 
would  have  allowed  a  man  to  die  without  the  sacra- 
ment! Now,  we  see  what  your  motives  are.  We 
honour  the  shepherd  of  our  souls,  for  we  need  his 
comfort  in  times  of  distress  and  his  mediation  in 
times  of  strife  and  his  sympathy  at  the  hour  of  death. 
The  hour  of  death  is  not  to  be  trifled  with.  It  fills 
us  with  awe  even  in  health;  it  brings  many  a 
money-offering  to  the  altar.  And  you  are  capable 
of  deserting  us  in  our  last  hour;  you  go  about  stir- 
ring up  strife  wherever  you  can  find  the  opportunity. 
You  ar$  not  our  shepherd!  " 


The  Crime  35 

"Send  him  away!"  cried  many  voices.  The 
priest  whistled  loudly,  and  an  armed  squad  emerged 
from  the  thicket. 

Robbers''  was  wildly  shouted  on  every  side, 
and  the  feasters  and  dancers,  separating  hastily, 
snatched  stones,  branches,  and  cudgels,  while  the 
fire  guardian  took  his  little  girl  in  his  arms.  But 
when  shots  were  fired  and  one  of  the  defenceless 
ones  fell  with  a  sharp  cry.  the  crowd  took  flight 
and  disappeared  in  the  woods.  One  man  —  it  was 
the  pale  Wahnfred  —  still  remained  by  the  water- 
fall, holding  his  bleeding  child  on  one  arm.  The 
other  he  raised,  and,  shaking  his  fist  at  the  priest, 
who  stood  surrounded  by  his  bailiffs,  he  cried  with 
a  hoarse  voice:  "  Priest,  you  have  wounded  my 
child.  That  shall  be  recorded  against  you  in 
blood!" 


CHAPTER   IV 

STRANGE  times  now  descended  upon  Trawies. 
A  feeling  of  suppressed  excitement  filled  all 
hearts;  there  was  neither  work-day  nor  holiday. 
Instead  of  working,  the  men  skulked  about  from 
house  to  house,  or  stood  in  groups  talking  in  low 
voices.  On  Sundays  the  church  was  almost  empty 
and  the  few  worshippers  present  suffered  the  pen- 
alty, for  the  sermons  which  the  preacher  hurled 
down  upon  his  audience  were  heavy,  each  word  like 
a  block  of  stone — but  they  failed  in  their  effect. 

Herr  Franciscus  did  not  dream,  however,  what 
the  people  were  praying  for  during  mass.  They 
were  imploring  God  to  take  this  tyrant  from  them 
and  to  replace  him  with  a  true  priest,  such  as  they 
had  had  before  and  such  as  other  parishes  now  en- 
joyed. They  felt  that  the  bloodless  sacrifice  at  the 
altar  had  almost  come  to  be  a  bloody  one,  and  that 
the  priest  was  a  Pharisee,  a  tormentor,  and  a  male- 
factor in  one;  and  as  if  Christ's  body  in  the  sacred 
wafer  were  in  ungodly  hands. 

A  whispering  and  questioning  went  from  mouth 
to  mouth,  asking  if  the  answer  had  not  yet  arrived. 
For  they  had  sent  a  petition  to  the  Church  and  civil 
authorities,  begging    that  the  priest  might  be   re- 

36 


The  Crime  37 

moved.  He  was  better  fitted  for  any  other  parish 
than  for  that  of  Trawies.  He  was  not  well  dis- 
posed towards  the  poor  forest  people ;  he  was  a  hard 
master,  and  he  had  used  force  against  them.  The 
Trawiesers  possessed  a  sense  of  justice  also,  as  well 
as  means  of  defending  themselves,  so  they  begged, 
for  God's  sake,  that  Herr  Franciscus  might  be  re- 
moved, or  they  would  not  vouch  for  the  conse- 
quences. 

This  petition,  signed  with  crosses  by  most  of  the 
inhabitants  and  accompanied  by  their  prayers,  re- 
mained unanswered  for  weeks.  There  was  much 
conjecturing  over  the  expected  reply  and  the  peo- 
ple foresaw  that  it  would  be  harsh  and  imperious, 
but  they  hoped  that  it  might  lead  to  a  change  for 
the  better.  In  the  meantime,  they  endured  with 
patience  the  hard  and  inconsiderate  conduct  of  the 
priest.  This  only  increased  the  man's  severity  and 
cruelty,  for  there  are  natures  which  are  embittered 
by  nothing  so  much  as  by  the  yielding  and  humility 
of  those  they  are  tormenting.  He  made  trouble  in 
many  houses,  crushed  all  hope  in  many  faithful 
souls,  and  was  constantly  wounding  the  feelings  of 
his  parishioners  by  his  rude  manner  of  trampling 
upon  their  old-time  customs. 

Late  in  the  summer,  at  the  Feast  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew, an  order  was  issued  through  the  schoolmaster 
for  the  parish  to  assemble  in  the  church  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  when  the  commands  and  wishes  of  the 
authorities  would  be  announced. 

For  years  the  church  at  Trawies  had  not  been  so 
well  filled  as  at  the  appointed  hour.     The  priest 


SS  The  God  Seeker 

was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  The  altar  towered  black 
and  threatening  above  the  chancel ;  no  candles 
lighted  the  pillars. 

He   has   even    extinguished    the   altar   lamp," 
murmured  the  fire  guardian;  "  that  is  a  bad  sign." 

Wahnfred,  pale,  and  filled  with  anxious  presenti- 
ment, heaved  a  deep  sigh. 

The  door  of  the  sacristy  leading  into  the  chancel 
was  now  heard  opening.  Here  the  announcement 
was  to  be  read.  What  if  it  should  be  the  new 
priest  himself!  Every  eye  was  turned  towards  the 
spot  where  formerly  the  word  of  God  had  been  so 
comfortingly  spoken,  and  where  of  late  such  spiteful 
cynicisms  and  angry  curses  had  been  pronounced. 
Now  there  would  surely  be  a  change. 

But  in  the  chancel  stood  the  hated  priest! 

A  mufHed  murmur  of  discontent  filled  the  church. 
The  priest,  not  in  his  robes,  but  dressed  in  dark 
clothes,  remained  for  several  minutes  motionless, 
staring  down  at  the  congregation  with  a  venomous 
look,  as  though  he  would  charm  serpents  with  his 
glance. 

He  then  read  with  a  weak  voice,  contrasting 
strangely  with  his  face,  the  following:  "  In  the 
name  of  the  high  authorities  appointed  by  God !  In 
the  name  of  His  Eminence  the  Archbishop!  In  the 
name  of  His  Right  Reverend  Constitorium !  In  the 
name  of  His  Worshipful  Majesty,  the  Emperor! 
Let  it  be  known  to  all  present !  The  complaints 
that  you  have  made  against  your  priest  are  ground- 
less. It  is  you,  yourselves,  who,  by  your  foolish 
return  to  pagan  customs,  by  your  refusal  to   pay 


The  Crime  39 

tithes,  by  your  utter  disregard  of  respect  due  him, 
have  aroused  the  anger  of  your  master.  To  ac- 
knowledge that  you  are  right  in  this  affair  would 
only  strengthen  you  in  that  which  we  must  prevent 
and  punish.  The  unit  must  conform  to  the  whole, 
the  parish  must  yield  to  the  state.  He  who  rebels 
is  lost.  We  demand  of  you  absolute  obedience  to 
your  chief.  We  threaten  you  with  our  wrath  on 
the  first  occasion  of  disregard  of  your  duty  as  sub- 
jects." 

The  signatures  and  seals  of  the  authorities,  with 
date  and  address,  followed. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  the  church.  With 
signs  of  resentment  and  discontent  the  people 
crowded  through  the  doorway.  The  priest  re- 
mained standing,  his  hands  clenched  upon  the 
chancel  desk;  his  cruel  eyes  followed  the  departing 
congregation ;  his  face  had  grown  yellow,  his  lips 
were  tightly  compressed.  Not  until  the  last  par- 
ishioner had  gone  did  he  turn  and  leave  the 
chancel. 

As  he  was  crossing  the  green  towards  the  parson- 
age, the  people  avoided  him  on  every  side.  Even 
the  aged  and  the  children  greeted  him  guardedly, 
while  the  men  turned  away  their  heads  without  a 
sign  of  recognition. 

"  We  will  get  away  from  here,"  said  a  man  from 
the  valley  of  the  Trasahk.  "  I  shall  set  fire  to  my 
hut  to-day  and  emigrate." 

"  My  ancestors  cultivated  this  land,"  said  the 
fire  guardian,  "  my  ancestors  founded  Trawies.  I 
will    not   leave   my  home.     We   shall    see   who   is 


40  The  God  Seeker 

rooted  more  firmly  here,  the  native  born  or  the 
stranger!  " 

To-day  the  people  had  no  mind  to  leave  the 
square  by  the  church;  they  grew  more  and  more 
noisy,  approaching  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  parson- 
age. One  man  threw  a  stone  at  the  window,  break- 
ing it  in  pieces,  at  the  same  time  demanding 
whether  or  not  the  priest  would  now  leave  them  in 
peace. 

The  bailiffs  attempted  to  disperse  the  crowd,  but 
it  scattered  only  to  re-assemble  in  another  place. 

Far  back  in  the  valley,  where  the  Miesing  brook 
flows  into  the  Trach,  is  a  cave  among  the  rocks, 
called  the  Rabenkirche  (the  Raven's  Church).  Ac- 
cording to  the  legend,  every  ninety  years  on  Christ- 
mas eve  the  ravens  from  the  surrounding  forests 
meet  here  to  relate  weird  stories  of  the  people  whom 
they  have  found  murdered  in  these  woods.  They  are 
said  to  speak  a  human  language,  and  if  a  human 
ear  were  brave  enough  to  listen  to  the  horrible  tales 
told  on  these  occasions  it  might  learn  of  many  a 
deed  otherwise  hidden  for  all  time  from  the  world. 
When  the  dusky  birds  have  finished  their  chronicle 
they  hold  a  religious  service  for  those  who  have  died 
without  the  prayers  and  good  wishes  of  their  fellow- 
beings 

The  men  of  Trawies  were  not  thinking  of  the  old 
legend,  but  of  the  Rabenkirche.  And  it  was  on  a 
Sunday  morning,  at  the  season  when  the  beeches 
and  larches  were  turning  yellow  and  the  birds  had 
ceased  their  joyous  singing  in  the   woods,  that   a 


The  Crime  41 

number  of  people  were  wending  their  way  to  the 
cave  in  the  Miesing  gorge.  They  came  from 
Trawies  and  from  the  Gestade,  from  the  Johannes- 
berg  and  from  the  Tarn,  and  from  the  distant  parts 
of  the  Trasank  valley. 

As  they  passed  the  church  the  bells  were  ringing. 
They  rang  warningly,  imploringly.  They  called  as 
a  hen  calls  when  she  would  protect  her  young  from 
danger. 

But  the  men  strode  gloomily  onward.  They  had 
become  estranged  from  the  church.  They  hoped, 
however,  that  the  time  would  arrive  when  they 
might  again  listen  with  joy  to  the  voice  of  the  bells. 

Among  the  men  were  the  fire  guardian  and  the 
hunter  from  the  Trasank.  Wahnfred  and  the  forest 
keeper,  Uli,  the  charcoal-burner,  and  Roderich,  the 
tramp.  Each  one  carried  a  heavy  stick,  for  they 
would  not  risk  being  overtaken  unarmed  a  second 
time,  as  on  that  occasion  on  the  Wildwiese.  Little 
Baumhackel  was  trudging  on  ahead  of  Roderich. 
He  was  carrying  his  coat  over  his  right  shoulder  and 
was  the  only  one  in  the  company  without  a  stick. 
It  was  just  as  safe  to  go  unarmed,  he  thought,  for 
if  there  should  be  shooting,  the  armed  men  would 
be  the  first  to  be  attacked.  It  was  clever  of  Little 
Baumhackel. 

As  he  walked  along  lazily  and  carelessly,  a  pack- 
age of  papers  fell  from  his  coat  pocket  upon  the 
ground. 

Roderich,  the  tramp,  saw  it  and  picked  it  up, 
saying  nothing.  Could  it  be  that  this  was  paper 
money  ?     Little  Baumhackel  had  had  an  interview 


42  [The  God  Seeker 

with  a  lumberman  the  day  before.  He  examined 
the  papers  and  with  a  laugh  uttered  a  curse-  "  By 
Saint  Erasmus  and  again  by  Saint  Erasmus!  Yes," 
continued  the  tramp  in  his  conversation  with  him- 
self, "  he  was  the  poor  martyr  whose  entrails  were 
taken  out  of  him.  And  so  the  Trawiesers  are  using 
him  as  a  certificate  of  confession !  Why  could  n't 
it  have  been  money  instead !  '* 

It  was  surely  a  most  aggravating  discovery. 

In  the  parish  of  Trawies  it  was  the  custom  for 
each  person  attending  the  Easter  confession  to  re- 
ceive from  the  priest,  after  absolution,  a  certificate, 
which  later  was  to  be  delivered  at  the  parsonage  to 
show  that  all  religious  duties  had  been  duly  per- 
formed. Upon  this  certificate  was  a  picture  of  their 
patron  saint  with  these  words  written  below: 
"  Holy  Bishop  Erasmus,  pray  for  us,  guard  us  in 
life,  and  stand  by  us  in  death  !  "  And  beneath  this, 
"  Easter  Confession  of  Parishioner  " — then  a  blank, 
where,  after  absolution,  the  name  of  the  penitent 
with  the  date  was  to  be  written.  Thus  the  priest 
was  able  to  keep  an  oversight  of  his  people. 

But  how  had  Little  Baumhackel  come  into  pos- 
session of  the  certificates  of  an  entire  year  ? 

"  Here,  you  wretch !  Hold  on  !  "  called  Roderich 
after  the  man,  who  turned  as  he  heard  himself  ad- 
dressed. "  Have  you  lost  something.  Little  Baum- 
hackel ?  " 

He  began  searching  his  pockets  at  once. 
Do  you  miss  nothing  ?  " 

"  Not  that  I  know  of,  unless  you  mean  my  lost 
soul," 


The  Crime  43 

"  This  here,  does  it  belong  to  you  ?  " 

"  It  can't  be  worth  much  or  you  would  n't  show 
it,"  said  Baumhackel.  Then  his  eye  fell  upon  the 
certificates. 

"  Have  I  been  carrying  those  papers  about  in  my 
pockets?  "  he  asked  himself. 

"  Man,"  said  the  tramp,  laying  his  hand  upon 
Baumhackel's  shoulder,  "  how  did  you  come  by 
such  sacred  things  ?  " 

"  I  stole  them,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Stole  them!  If  you  broke  into  the  parsonage 
and  could  find  nothing  better  than  the  pictures  of 
saints  you  are  a  fool." 

You  know,  my  dear  Roderich,  that  I  usually 
set  little  store  by  stealing,  but  if  I  attempt  it,  it  is 
for  a  good  reason.  When  you  steal,  you  confess,  as 
a  matter  of  course.  But  if  you  should  miss  confes- 
sion once,  then  you  would  have  to  steal." 

"  If  you  want  to  quarrel  with  someone,"  said 
Roderich,  "  you  are  mistaken  in  your  man!  " 

Almost  terrified  at  the  sudden  anger  of  the  tramp, 
Little  Baumhackel  stammered:  "  I  did  n't  mean  to 
offend  you.  As  you  asked  me  how  I  came  by  the 
sacred  things,  I  just  wanted  to  tell  you  why  I  stole 
them.     I  did  not  go  to  confession  last  Easter." 

"  You  heathen  !  " 

"  It  was  because  I  knew  a  secret  which  had  to  be 
kept  from  the  priest.  I  preferred  going  without  the 
holy  bread  to  swallowing  his  penance  with  it. 
Never  mind,  I  am  a  Christian  again  now.  But  after 
Easter  I  began  to  reflect  upon  what  would  happen 
to  me  when  it  was  discovered  that  I  had   played 


44  The  God  Seeker 

truant.  And  it  would  have  been  discovered,  for 
my  certificate  was  missing.  Then  I  was  worried, 
and  on  the  day  when  the  parishioners  were  deliver- 
ing their  certificates  at  the  parsonage  I  crept  into 
the  house  at  nightfall.  The  housemaid  is  an  old 
playmate  of  mine,  and  it  was  for  her  sake  that  I  had 
kept  my  secret;  it  was  she  who  gave  me  the  whole 
package.  Now  let  him  prove  that  mine  is  missing, 
for  they  are  all  missing.  I  '11  sell  you  one  if  you 
want  it,  Roderich." 

"  I  manage  this  way,"  answered  Roderich.  "  One 
year,  when  I  have  n't  much  on  my  conscience,  I 
confess  twice  and  save  the  second  certificate  for  an- 
other year,  when  I  have  done  something  I  don't 
like  to  tell.  " 

**  Not  at  all  a  bad  idea,"  said  his  companion. 

When    the   company    reached    the   Miesing,   the 
younger  ones    began   their  merry-making  at  once. 
They   climbed    and    wrestled,    danced  and    played 
games.     They  were  in  exuberant  spirits  despite  the 
solemn  occasion  which  had  called  the   people   to- 
gether.    The  older  men  of  Trawies,  and  a  few  of 
those  whose  word  had  weight,  gradually  separated 
themselves  from  the  boisterous  crowd  and  withdrew 
to  the  cave.    While  outside  the  people  were  gather- 
ing wood  for  a  fire,  the  blue  smoke  of  which  lightly 
rose  among  the  pine-trees,  while  they  were  catching 
trout  in  the  river  Trach,  dressing  and  broiling  them, 
while   they    shouted    and  sang  and   with   childlike 
pleasure  laughed   over  their  foolish  jests,  the  old 
men  in  the  dark  cavern  were  deliberately  sowing  the 
fatal  seed  for  a  terrible  future. 


The  Crime  45 

Gallo  Weissbucher  began  with  these  words: 

"  Men  of  Trawies,  you  know  why  we  have  come 
together  here." 

"  We  know  it,"  murmured  the  men. 

"  Once  we  too  took  part  in  the  merry-making  of 
the  young  people,  for  in  Trawies  we  all  live  to  a 
great  age,  yet  never  grow  old.  That  is  all  changed 
now.  For  many  days  have  I  seen  no  ray  of  pleasure 
or  happiness  in  your  faces.  And  I  too  have  no 
longer  a  desire  to  laugh.  Trawies,  once  free,  is 
now  in  bondage.  And  our  laws  remain  unchanged; 
our  spiritual  and  civil  government  is  the  same.  We 
have  always  fulfilled  our  duty  towards  it ;  aside  from 
that  we  have  remained  our  own  masters.  But  how 
is  it  to-day  ?  A  single  man  has  become  our  destruc- 
tion ;  I  need  not  name  him — you  all  know  him ! 
Could  he  but  know  us  as  we  know  him!  He  came 
a  stranger,  and  would  supplant  our  Emperor  and 
himself  become  our  ruler,  our  prince,  though  he  is 
far  from  princely.  He  is  draining  our  very  marrow, 
striking  with  rude  hands  at  our  heart  itself.  He 
would  trample  on  our  ancestral  rights,  and  is  it  not 
true  that  he  is  plundering  our  homes  ?  " 
It  is  indeed  true!  " 

'*  Is  it  not  true  that  he  would  separate  us  from 
the  customs  of  our  forefathers,  as  one  severs  the 
tree  from  its  roots,  only  to  throw  it  aside  to  decay  ? 
Have  you  seen  the  retainers  which  he  keeps,  and 
the  hunting  dogs,  to  tear  us  in  pieces  ?  Have  you 
not  heard  the  report  of  his  gun  upon  the  Wild- 
wiese  ?" 

"  We  have  heard  it !  " 


4^  The  God  Seeker 

"  The  lead  has  entered  into  one  of  our  own  flesh 
and  blood.  An  innocent  child  has  been  shot,  but 
this  ball  will  remain  for  ever  buried  in  our  own 
hearts." 

The  pale  Wahnfred  ground  his  teeth;  he  thought 
of  the  fresh  blood  trickling  over  the  body  of  his 
little  son;  he  thought  of  the  nights  of  agony 
through  which  he  had  watched  by  Erlefried's  side 
until  the  danger  was  at  last  over  and  the  arm 
healed. 

Is  that  a  good  shepherd  who  sets  wolves  upon 
his  flock  ? "  continued  the  fire  guardian, 

"  Curse  him,  curse  him  !  "  resounded  through  the 
rocky  cavern, 

"  Subdue  your  anger,  ye  men  of  Trawies!  Calmly 
and  deliberately  must  we  consider  what  is  to  be 
done  to  protect  ourselves  from  this  enemy.  Has  no 
one  a  word  to  say  ?  " 

All  were  silent. 

"  As  you  know,  our  petition  to  the  authorities 
has  been  fruitless.  To  our  anger  and  humiliation 
the  answer  has  been  hurled  at  us  by  him !  Now  is 
he  bolder  than  before,  and  we  are  helpless  if  we  do 
not  help  ourselves.  What  is  your  opinion  ?  " 
He  must  go!  "  cried  many  voices. 

"  In  that  I  agree  with  you,  comrades.  There  is 
nothing  I  hate  like  force,  but  it  is  force  which  has 
aroused  our  anger  and  against  which  we  must  de- 
fend ourselves.  The  men  in  authority  have  sent  us 
word  that  the  unit  must  submit  to  the  whole.  We 
have  known  that  long  and  we  do  submit  to  the  Em- 
pire.    It  is  an  eternal  law  that  any  one  thing  which 


The  Crime  47 

does  not  tend  to  the  prosperity  of  the  whole  shall 
be  exterminated/' 

"  So  he  must  go!  "  cried  one. 

"  Only  to  return  with  an  armed  force,"  said  an- 
other, 

"  Should  he  come  back,  he  would  find  the  par- 
sonage in  ashes." 

'*  And  you  would  be  obliged  to  rebuild  it  without 
pay.  An  enemy  would  leave  to  return  with  a 
hundred." 

"  What  then  shall  we  do— what  ?  " 

"  Kill  him!" 

A  dead  silence.  Who  had  spoken  the  word  ?  It 
escaped  from  the  dark  recesses  of  the  cavern.  Even 
the  noise  outside  seemed  hushed.  A  slight  breeze 
stirred  the  branches  and  dry  beech  leaves  were 
blown  across  the  entrance  of  the  cave. 

The  fire  guardian  then  asked  in  a  hushed  voice : 

"  Has  anyone  a  word  to  say  against  it  ? " 

There  was  no  answer. 

The  men  drew  closer  together  farther  back  from 
the  opening.  Some  whispered  hurriedly;  no  one 
could  see  how  deeply  flushed  were  their  faces. 
Others  remained  silent  with  compressed  lips;  no 
one  could  see  how  pale  they  were.  Gradually  the 
voices  of  the  speakers  became  louder  and  more 
passionate — the  opinions  differed.  The  fire  guar- 
dian at  last  succeeded  in  restoring  order  and  the 
discussion  continued.  No  one  was  allowed  to  enter 
from  without;  no  one  was  allowed  to  leave.  With 
uplifted  arms  and  clenched  fists,  the  members  of 
J:be  coiinfil  raised  three  fingers  to  take  the  p^tb; 


4^  The  God  Seeker 

"  To  whomsoever  the  lot  falls,  he  must  perform 
the  deed,  without  protest,  without  delay,  as  truly 
as  he  is  a  free-born  child  of  Almighty  God !  " 

"If  it  falls  to  me,  I  will  do  it  without  protest, 
without  delay,  as  truly  as  I  am  a  free-born  child  of 
Almighty  God!  " 

The  oath  was  taken  by  each  man  present. 
A  tall,  slender  man,  called  Bart-from-Tarn,  now 
stepped  out  of  the  cave,  casting  his  eyes  searchingly 
upon  the  ground.  He  picked  up  a  number  of  little 
stones,  only  to  throw  them  down  again ;  he  plucked 
a  few  leaves  from  a  bush,  then  dropped  them ;  he 
seized  hold  of  several  twigs,  but  let  go  of  them  so 
quickly  that  they  swung  to  and  fro  on  their 
branches. 

"  What  are  you  looking  for  ?  "  asked  Roderich, 
the  tramp,  who  was  standing  a  little  apart  from  the 
merry  company  outside. 

"  I  need  certain  things,"  said  Bart,  without  look- 
ing up,  "  little  stones  or  leaves,  forty  in  number. 
But  they  must  be  alike  in  size  and  form." 

"  See  here,  then,  perhaps  you  can  use  these," 
answered  the  tramp,  holding  out  the  package  of 
confessional  certificates  which  he  had  picked  up 
behind  Little  Baumhackel  earlier  in  the  day. 

Bart  looked  at  the  slips  of  paper  without  asking 
how  the  owner  came  by  them.  He  only  said, 
"  They  will  do." 

What  are  you  going  to  use  them  for  ?  "  asked 
Roderich. 

"  To  light  a  fire,"  replied  Bart.  "  You  stay  out 
here,"  and  he  re-entered  the  cave. 


The  Crime  49 

The  papers  were  examined.  Forty  men  were 
present,  forty  had  sworn ;  forty  of  the  confessional 
certificates  were  counted  out,  each  with  the  name 
of  its  owner  written  upon  it. 

"  This  is  a  fatality,"  said  one  of  the  older  men, 
pointing  to  the  picture  of  St.  Erasmus;  "  our  patron 
saint  is  with  us." 

"  Amen!  "  murmured  the  fire  guardian,  dropping 
the  bits  of  paper  into  a  cleft  in  the  rock.  Taking 
his  stick  he  stirred  them  thoroughly,  then  turning 
towards  his  companions,  said:  *'  In  this  rocky  urn 
now  rest  the  fortunes  of  Trawies  and  our  future. 
Soon  will  the  fatal  lot  be  drawn  demanding  the 
deed  of  one  of  us.  The  responsibility  rests  upon  us 
all,  though  the  chosen  one  must  perform  the  act. 
We  all  promise  to  stand  by  him  and  give  him  our 
support.  And  when  it  is  done,  we  will  all  uphold 
and  protect  him  as  our  liberator.  I  now  dip  my 
stick  into  this  pitch;  the  paper  which  clings  to  it, 
let  it  be  the  voice  of  God!  Should  there  be  more 
than  one  paper,  the  lots  must  be  drawn  anew. 
Here  is  the  stick.  Who  will  take  it  and  thrust  it 
into  the  urn  ?  " 

They  drew  back,  feeling  that  the  slightest  volun- 
tary movement  of  the  hand  would  be  a  crime. 

At  last  Bart-from-Tarn  seized  the  stick  and 
plunged  it  into  the  cleft  of  the  rock. 

All  eyes  were  fastened  upon  the  outline  of  the 
slender  figure  standing  in  the  dim  light.  He  raised 
his  arm  and  the  bit  of  white  paper  was  clinging  to  the 
stick.  He  held  it  a  long  time  motionless — no  one 
wished    to   touch   it;   then  it  loosened    itself   and 


50  The  God  Seeker 

fluttered  back  into  the  cleft.  Above  in  the  arches  of 
the  cave  a  sound  as  of  beating  of  wings  was  heard. 
Many  a  one  thought:  "  Has  the  lot  fallen  to  me, 
and  is  my  good  angel  with  a  flutter  of  his  wing 
sending  it  back  into  the  cleft  again  ?  "  And  many 
a  one  was  seized  with  horror  and  tried  to  leave  the 
cave.  But  the  fire  guardian  barred  the  entrance, 
earnestly  reminding  the  men  of  their  oath. 

Again  Bart  thrust  the  stick  into  the  crevice  and 
brought  up  another  paper. 

It  lay  upon  the  ground;  the  picture  of  the  saint 
could  be  distinctly  seen.  The  hunter  from  the 
Trasank  bent  over  and  read:  "  Holy  Bishop  Eras- 
mus, pray  for  us,  guard  us  in  life,  and  stand  by  us  in 
death!  Easter  Confessional  Certificate  of  Parish- 
ioner " — but  the  name  was  difficult  to  read  in  the 
darkness.  Uli,  the  charcoal-burner,  struck  a  light 
and  they  read  the  words  written  in  the  priest's  own 
hand:  "  Wahnfred,  from  the  Gestade." 

Wahnfred  leaned  back  against  the  wall  and  did 
not  stir.  He  was  paler  than  usual.  He  had  heard 
his  name.  The  veil  of  dreams  in  which  the  quiet 
visionary  would  so  gladly  have  enveloped  himself 
had  vanished;  he  saw  a  path  of  blood  before  him. 


CHAPTER  V 

BY  the  river,  where  the  valley  of  the  Trach 
widened,  amid  the  young  alders  and  beeches, 
a  brown  patch  of  sandy  ground  disclosed  itself,  over 
which  the  Trach  flowed  quietly  in  its  broad  bed. 
Here,  upon  a  clearing  on  the  hillside,  stood  the 
house  called  am  Gestade  (by  the  river-bank).  It 
was  the  most  picturesque  in  the  whole  region  ;  it 
was  built  of  wood,  and  its  large,  bright  windows 
looked  frankly  out  into  the  valley,  while  the  other 
habitations,  thickly  surrounded  by  bushes,  had 
their  windows  cautiously  barred  and  covered. 

The  house  had  a  high  roof  surmounted  by  a  little 
tower.  Trawies  was  too  far  away  in  the  valley  for 
the  church  bells  to  be  distinguished  here,  so  in  this 
tower  had  been  placed  "  the  metal  tongue  that  shall 
praise  the  Lord,  even  as  the  music  of  a  harp  in 
Zion." 

The  front  room  was  furnished  as  a  carpenter's 
shop.  A  stranger  entering  would  look  about  him 
twice  before  asking  if  this  were  reall}-  the  home  of 
Wahnfred,  the  carpenter.  For  the  interior  re- 
sembled the  dwelling  of  a  country  priest.  Every- 
thing was  scoured  till  it  shone,  and  snow-white 
curtains  hung  before  the  bright  window-panes.  The 

51 


52  The  God  Seeker 

walls  were  covered  with  pictures  of  saints  and  upon 
the  shelves  lay  books  and  piles  of  manuscripts.  At 
the  door  stood  an  earthenware  basin  filled  with  pure 
water,  above  which  was  written  on  the  wooden 
wall:  "  I  am  the  Alpha  and  Omega;  to  whomsoever 
thirsteth  will  I  give  to  drink  from  the  fountain  of 
living  water." 

Whenever  the  master  passed  out  through  the 
doorway,  he  dipped  his  finger  into  the  holy  water 
and  sprinkled  his  forehead  and  his  house.  Being 
once  asked  by  a  stranger  if  the  water  really  pos- 
sessed the  power  to  bless,  Wahnfred  replied  :  "  It  is 
not  the  water  but  our  own  good  intentions  that 
bless  us.  Our  thoughts  and  our  wills  are  the  powers 
with  which  the  God  of  Sabaoth  rules  the  world ; 
and  because  thoughts  and  wills  have  no  form,  we 
must  place  a  symbol  before  us,  for  the  eye  must 
see  and  the  ear  must  hear  that  which  the  heart  shall 
believe." 

Could  this  be  a  labouring  man  ?  Surely  he  must 
have  been  educated  in  a  monastery  school  or  by 
some  hermit  in  his  cell.  But  Wahnfred  was  born  in 
this  house  and  had  never  gone  farther  away  from 
this  heathland  than  to  the  boundary  line  marked  by 
the  "  Five  Pines."  He  had  learned  to  read  and 
write  in  the  school  of  Trawies ;  the  old  priest,  with 
his  white  hair  and  bowed  head,  wearing  the  ivory 
cross  upon  his  breast,  the  former  master  of  Trawies, 
had  given  him  instruction  in  many  things,  but  more 
especially  in  the  Holy  Writ  and  Revelation.  As 
the  old  man,  the  instructor,  looked  down  towards 
the  earth,  so  the  young  lad,  the  learner,  looked  up 


The  Crime  53 

longingly  and  searchingly  to  the  skies.  And  when 
the  clouds  separated,  he  seemed  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  heaven  itself,  with  its  angels  and  all  its  magical 
joys  which  fill  the  heart  of  the  visionary  as  the  joys 
of  earth  can  never  do. 

The  old  priest,  who  would  have  gladly  provided 
the  lad  with  a  religious  education,  died  before  this 
was  accomplished,  but  he  became  the  guiding  star 
in  Wahnfred's  life.  The  boy  possessed  a  predispo- 
sition to  become  a  religious  teacher,  perhaps  even  a 
prince  of  the  Church  to  be  canonised  after  death. 
But  how  different  had  been  his  path  in  life,  how 
different  his  goal!  Wahnfred  remained  at  home 
and  learned  his  father's  trade. 

When  the  willows  by  the  river  and  the  clouds 
upon  the  heights  gleamed  in  the  evening  sun,  the 
young  carpenter  would  leave  axe  and  plane  and  re- 
fresh himself  by  reading  the  Holy  Scripture.  There 
came  a  time,  however,  when  he  could  no  longer  in- 
terpret certain  verses  of  the  Bible  as  the  aged  priest 
had  done.  His  heart  glowed  as  he  read  the  words 
of  the  Apocalypse:  "  And  I  saw  a"  woman  sitting 
upon  a  scarlet  beast.  In  her  hand  she  held  a  golden 
cup.  Upon  her  forehead  was  written  the  word, 
Secrecy.  And  I  saw  the  woman  drunken  with  the 
blood  of  saints.  For  everyone  has  quaffed  the  wine 
of  pleasure."  Then  he  read  how  Jacob  courted 
Rachel,  and  one  day,  over  in  the  farthermost  valley 
of  the  Trasank,  he  beheld  a  maid  more  beautiful 
than  ever  Rachel  could  have  been.  On  these  sum- 
mer evenings  he  would  sit  before  the  door  of  his 
house,  gazing  down  at  the  beeches  and  willows  in 


54  The  God  Seeker 

the  soft  moonlight,  listening  to  the  murmuring  of 
the  Trach.  But  his  mind  was  not  dwelling  on  this 
peaceful  scene.  Then  the  trees,  with  their  lofty 
crowns,  would  pass  by  him  in  a  long  procession ;  he 
would  stumble  against  stones;  mountains  would 
rise  before  him  and  impassable  streams  cross  his 
path.  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  would  no 
longer  be  sitting  before  the  door  of  his  house,  but 
kneeling  before  the  window  of  a  hut  in  the  remote 
valley  of  the  Trasank,  listening  to  the  soft  breath- 
ing of  a  sleeping  girl.  He  would  listen  until  the 
morning  star  appeared  over  the  broad  forest  of  the 
Ritscher,  then  arise  from  his  knees  and  return  to  his 
home,  where  the  shavings  would  soon  be  curling 
from  his  plane. 

And  on  one  Midsummer  Day  as  the  girl  was 
standing  early  in  the  morning  in  the  graveyard  call- 
ing: "  My  mother,  I  waken  thee!  My  father,  I 
waken  thee!  My  brother,  my  sister,  I  waken  thee! 
Holy  Midsummer  Day  is  here!  "  Wahnfred  over- 
heard her  and  asked :  "  Are  all  thy  dear  ones  buried 
here  ?" 

She  nodded. 

"  Art  thou  quite  alone  in  the  world  ?  " 

She  bowed  her  head. 

He  fled  from  her.  And  on  one  of  the  following 
nights  he  was  again  kneeling  before  her  window. 
The  air  was  heavy  and  close;  a  thunderstorm  was 
rising  over  the  Trasank  and  a  sudden  flash  of  light- 
ning revealed  to  Wahnfred  the  woman  in  all  her 
loveliness. 

In  this  moment  his  dreams  were  dispelled.     He 


The  Crime  55 

fled  through  wind  and  rain,  the  thunder  seeming  to 
hurl  down  its  wrath  upon  him,  but  the  image  was 
fixed  for  ever  in  his  heart.  On  the  morning  of  the 
Feast  of  Corpus  Christi,  as  the  maiden,  in  prepara- 
tion for  church,  was  raising  her  white  arms  to  bind 
a  wreath  in  her  hair,  which  shimmered  Hke  ripe  corn 
in  the  sun,  Wahnfred,  with  passionate  eyes,  burst 
into  her  house,  crying:  "  Kiss  me  with  the  kisses 
of  thy  lips,  for  they  are  more  delicious  than  wine!  " 

"  What  wilt  thou,  Wahnfred  ?  "  stammered  the 
girl,  almost  terrified  at  the  pale  youth  with  the 
glowing  face. 

"  Thou  dost  not  know,  oh,  thou  loveliest  of 
maidens  ?  "  he  cried,  falling  upon  his  knees  and 
stretching  his  hands  out  before  him  to  embrace  her. 
"  How  beautiful  thou  art,  my  darling'  Give  me  a 
spray  of  thy  myrtle  wreath  to  wear  next  my  heart !  " 

This  was  the  courtship.  She  became  his  loving, 
devoted  wife.  She  listened  gladly  when  he  read 
aloud  from  the  Szvan  Song  of  the  Wise  King,  but 
made  no  remarks.  She  was  like  a  quiet  lake,  always 
pure.  She  was  a  domestic  woman,  caring  for  the 
house  of  the  visionary,  and  the  neighbours  knew 
little  of  her. 

In  the  fourth  year  after  their  marriage,  on  the  eve 
of  W^hitsunday,  as  she  was  sitting  quietly  by  the 
river  under  the  peaceful  alders,  she  said  to  her  hus- 
band:  "  If  God  wills,  my  dear,  a  child  will  come  to 
us  at  Christmastide. "' 

Their  prayers  had  been  granted.  The  joys  of 
summer,  the  charm  of  autumn,  did  not  exist  for 
Wahnfred  this  year.     As  he  had  never  longed  for 


56  The  God  Seeker 

spring,  he  now  longed  for  winter.  When  at  last  the 
snowflakes  began  to  fall,  he  thrilled  with  inward 
pleasure ;  as  the  ice  formed  a  crust  over  the  Trach, 
he  said  to  his  wife :  "  The  water  runs  without  noise, 
the  time  is  near!  " 

And  three  days  before  the  holy  feast,  Erlefried 
was  born. 

We  already  know  the  lad.  It  was  he  who  led  the 
little  daughter  of  the  fire  guardian  up  to  the  Wild- 
wiese,  where  the  unfortunate  shooting  had  taken 
place.  Wahnfred  had  carried  his  bleeding  child 
home,  muttering  all  the  curses  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment on  the  way.  His  wife  did  not  close  her  eyes 
for  many  nights,  but  she  did  not  weep ;  she  only 
cared  for  and  watched  over  the  sick  boy.  Her  lips 
uttered  no  curse  for  what  was  past ;  they  opened  in 
prayer  for  the  future,  for  the  recovery  of  her  child. 

And  he  recovered. .  The  young  cheeks  regained 
their  ruddy  glow,  the  bright  spirit  was  once  more 
alive  within  him.  He  never  referred  to  the  shoot- 
ing on  the  Wildwiese,  nor  did  Wahnfred ;  but  the 
latter  rejoiced  that  the  wound  had  left  a  scar  —  a 
debt  for  which  Erlefried,  grown  to  manhood,  should 
demand  payment. 

Then  the  day  arrived  when  Wahnfred,  the  car« 
penter,  learned  with  horror  that  the  crime  would 
not  wait  to  be  avenged  by  the  son;  it  must  be 
avenged  by  the  father  at  once.  He  had  taken  the 
oath,  and  he  must  now  fulfil  his  duty. 

On  a  late  autumn  morning  he  sat  before  the  door 
of  his  house  deep  in  reflection. 

In  the  valley  lay  the  hoar-frost,  and  the  oaks  and 


The  Crime  57 

beeches  stretched  their  lifeless  branches  out  into  the 
icy  air.  In  the  light  of  the  rising  sun  the  Trach 
shimmered  through  the  bluish  mist  like  a  gliding 
silver  serpent.  How  different  this  autumn  from  the 
one  when  the  child  was  expected  at  Christmas  time! 

Wahnfred  fixed  his  gaze  upon  the  lifeless  things 
about  him,  as  though  he  would  learn  from  dying 
nature  how  to  destroy  life.  "  Whoso  sheddeth 
man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed,"  he 
read  in  the  Holy  Writ.  Yes,  this  is  the  law  and  it 
is  good.  But  woe  unto  him  who  is  called  to  judge! 
He  who  had  never  planned  a  cruel  deed,  who  in 
the  Book  of  Life,  which  to  him  was  like  heavenly 
music,  had  sought  eternal  truths,  this  man  had  been 
chosen  by  Heaven  in  Its  wrath  to  deal  justice  with 
the  sword. 

"  Ah,  well,"  thought  Wahnfred,  "  holy  is  the 
angel  who  with  his  gleaming  sword  drove  sinners 
from  Paradise  and  now  stands  at  the  gate  to  guard 
the  Tree  of  Life.  And  Trawies,  our  sweet,  peace- 
ful home  in  the  shadow  of  the  woods,  is  also  an 
Eden  that  must  be  protected  from  the  destroyer. 
The  customs  of  our  forefathers  are  the  Tree  of  Life, 
on  whose  branches  ripen  good  deeds,  in  whose 
shade  exists  a  free,  contented  people.  He  who  was 
placed  here  to  protect  this  tree  has  wantonly 
stretched  out  his  arm  to  its  topmost  branches.  He 
must  die!  On  the  day  of  the  Feast  of  All  Souls,  the 
memorial  feast  for  those  who  have  lived  before  us, 
shall  this  tyrant  menace  us  no  longer." 

Thus  he  sat  and  brooded.  The  sun  was  still 
shining  through  the  frosty  morning  mist ;  he  fixed 


.# 


58  The  God  Seeker 

his  eyes  upon  it  as  though  he  would  absorb  from  its 
fire  counsel  and  strength  for  his  undertaking. 

"  Thou  shalt  not  kill!  "  a  voice  from  within  the 
house  was  suddenly  heard  to  say.  Wahnfred 
started ;  then  little  Erlefried  appeared  in  the  door- 
way, looking  imploringly  at  his  father.  "  Help 
me — *  Thou  shalt  not  kilU  ' 

'•  Kill  ?  Why  dost  thou  say  that  ?  "  said  Wahn- 
fred harshlv.  "  How  does  that  concern  thee  ?  Wilt 
thou  then  perjure  me  ?  " 

Bewildered,  the  boy  looked  into  his  father's 
face.  Then,  clinging  to  his  knees,  he  asked 
softly:  "  Art  thou  angry  ?  Then  I  will  learn  it  by 
myself." 

"  My  child,"  he  said,  laying  his  hand  upon  the 
boy's  curly  head,  "  tell  me,  what  wilt  thou  learn  by 
thyself?" 

"  The  priest  has  given  us  the  Fifth  Command- 
ment to  learn  in  school  and  whoever  cannot  repeat 
it  to-morrow  will  be  punished." 

"  Thou  shalt  be  punished  thus  early  for  the  Fifth 
Commandment  ?  Foolish  boy,  give  me  the  book, 
I  will  help  thee." 

And  he  read:  "  The  Fifth  Commandment  for- 
bids thee  to  kill  thyself  or  another.  Thus  saith 
the  Lord :  '  And  surely  your  blood  of  your  lives 
will  I  require.  ...  At  the  hand  of  man  and  at 
the  hand  of  man's  brother  will  I  require  the  life  of 
man.  ...  I  say  unto  you,  whosoever  hateth 
his  brother  is  a  murderer! 

Erlefried  repeated  the  words  after  his  father,  at 
the  same  time  whittling  a  stick  with  his  pocket- 


The  Crime  59 

knife.  He  scarcely  seemed  to  heed  what  he  was 
saying;  his  work  interested  him  more, 

"  Thou  art  inattentive,  child,"  said  Wahnfred, 
reprovingly;  "  what  art  thou  making  ?  " 

"  A  sword,"  was  the  boy's  answer. 


CHAPTER   VI 

WAHNFRED  laughed  a  bitter  laugh  as  he  per- 
ceived in  his  own  child  how  one  may  learn 
the  Commandment,  "  Thou  shalt  not  kill!  "  while 
forging  a  sword.  Such  is  human  nature;  it  was; 
ever  thus  and  always  will  be.  The  hand  commits  a 
crime  and  the  lips  pronounce  judgment.  Or  is  it 
the  contrary  ?  Do  the  lips  commit  the  crime  ? 
Does  the  hand  pronounce  judgment  ? 

An  order  had  been  issued  that  the  autumn  tithes 
of  grain  should  be  delivered  at  the  parsonage. 
Wahnfred  had  killed  a  pig  and  sent  a  fine  piece  of 
the  smoked  meat  to  the  priest.  That  would  be  one 
way  to  send  death  into  his  house;  it  flashed  through 
his  brain  like  lightning  ;  but  he  quickly  cast  the 
thought  from  him. 

Just  at  this  time  a  hunt  was  taking  place  in  the 
forest.  The  peasants  of  Trawies  had  been  engaged 
as  beaters,  some  of  them  being  allowed  to  carry  rifles 
to  kill  any  wolves  or  bears  that  might  be  about. 
Wahnfred  was  also  called  upon  and  received  his  gun 
with  the  rest,  A  few  gentlemen  had  come  over  from 
the  monastery  and  Herr  Franciscus  was  their  con- 
stant companion.  The  people  were  greatly  sur- 
prised to  see  how  ffiendly  and  polite  the  priest  could 

60 


The  Crime  6i 

be  —as  harmless  as  a  dove.  "  Were  he  only  half 
as  kind  with  his  parishioners,  they  would  worship 
him,"  said  one  of  the  beaters. 

"  He  is  far  too  humble  to  allow  himself  to  be 
worshipped,"  ironically  remarked  another;  "  he  de- 
serves to  be  flogged." 

The  men  who  thus  spoke  knew  nothing  of  the 
compact  in  the  Rabenkirche. 

But  all  the  more  constantly  did  Wahnfred  think 
of  it,  as,  concealed  in  the  thicket,  he  saw  through  the 
branches  the  priest  standing  by  a  larch-tree  hardly 
twenty  feet  away  from  him.  He  was  quite  alone, 
waiting  with  cocked  gun  for  the  herd  of  deer  which 
had  been  discovered  upon  the  other  side  of  the 
ravine.  Distant  sounds  from  the  beaters  and  dogs 
re-echoed  through  the  woods.  Wahnfred  saw  how 
Herr  Franciscus  was  trembling  with  passion,  the 
eye  of  the  hunter  glowing  again  with  the  same  fire 
as  on  that  Midsummer  Day  upon  the  Wildwiese, 
when  he  had  ordered  his  bailiffs  to  shoot  upon  the 
crowd. 

And  Wahnfred's  fingers  also  moved  convulsively 
upon  his  trigger — for  he  too  had  made  many  a  good 
shot  in  his  day. 

Even  should  a  deer  appear,"  he  thought,  "  I 
may  only  shoot  beasts  of  prey.  Beasts  of  prey  ? 
That  was  the  priest's  order.  Ah,  is  that  not  a  fine 
large  wolf  standing  yonder  ?  No,  it  is  a  fox  in 
sheep's  clothing,  disguised  as  a  shepherd.  And  he 
leads  his  lambs  into  the  forest  to  destroy  them. 
Hold  still,  brute!  "  and  Wahnfred  began  to  aim — 
"  how  often  hast  thou  preached  to  us  of  the  last 


62  The  God  Seeker 

judgment  when  our  tithes  were  not  fully  paid !  Be- 
fore there  is  time  to  say  the  Lord's  Prayer,  shalt 
thou  stand  before  the  judgment  seat  thyself.  I 
would  that  thou  mightest  pray  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
I  have  undertaken  to  send  thee  out  of  the  world, 
but  to  send  thee  to  the  lowest  depths  of  hell — and 
thou  wouldst  go  straight  to  the  very  lowest — that  I 
would  not  do.  Eternity  is  horribly  long!  When 
I  saw  my  bleeding  child  I  could  have  set  all  the  nine 
and  ninety  devils  loose  upon  thee,  and  it  would 
have  given  me  great  joy  could  they  have  torn  thee 
in  pieces  before  my  eyes.  But  to  burn  in  the  ever- 
lasting fire — that !  Knave !  I  pity  thee,  and  I  will 
let  thee  off  until  a  day  when  thy  soul  is  better  pre- 
pared." 

A  shot  was  fired — by  the  priest.  A  large  stag 
plunged  and  fell  upon  the  ground. 

Wahnfred's  gun  was  still  loaded.  On  the  home- 
ward way,  as  the  peasants  were  carrying  the  rich 
booty  upon  a  litter  of  branches  and  as  the  hunting 
horn  resounded  amid  the  gay  laughter  of  the  hun- 
ters, Bart-from-Tarn,  who  was  walking  beside 
Wahnfred,  gave  him  a  long,  questioning  look. 

With  a  nod,  Wahnfred  replied:  "  Give  me  time." 

A  few  days  later  Erlefried  brought  word  home 
from  school  that  the  priest  had  not  yet  asked  them 
about  the  Fifth  Commandment,  for  he  was  lying  ill 
in  bed,  having  caught  the  fever  which  was  raging  in 
the  valley  of  the  Trasank. 

This  news  made  Wahnfred  thoughtful.  **  If  our 
hard  master  should  fall  a  sacrifice  to  his  calling, 
then  am  I  free,  then  are  we  all  free.     But  is  it  just 


The  Crime  63 

to  hate  a  man  who  goes  to  destruction  while  fulfill- 
ing his  duty  ?     Never,  Wahnfred,  never!  " 

The  report  was  soon  circulated — the  people  were 
telling  it  with  a  shudder  of  joy — that  the  pestilence 
had  broken  out  in  the  parsonage.  The  housemaid 
had  died,  the  housekeeper  had  fled,  the  priest  was 
lying  very  ill. 

The  hand  of  an  avenging  God.  "  Mine  is  the 
vengeance!"  saith  the  Lord.  "Yet,"  thought 
Wahnfred,  "if  the  maid  is  dead  and  the  house- 
keeper has  deserted,  who  will  be  by  him  in  his  last 
hour  ?  He  is  a  poor,  unfortunate  man,  after  all, 
and  dying  is  no  child's  play.  Who  will  close  his 
eyes  for  him  ?  " 

And  he  took  the  road  to  Trawies.  As  he  was 
passing  Baumhackel's  house,  the  latter  called  out 
to  him:  "Are  you  going  to  the  tavern,  Wahn- 
fred ? " 

He  made  no  reply. 

Upon  the  bridge  where  the  Johannesbach  flows 
into  the  Trach,  Wahnfred  met  Firnerhans,  one  of 
the  oldest  men  of  the  parish. 

"  Where  to  in  such  haste  ?  " 

Stepping    close    to   him,    Wahnfred   whispered : 

To  the  parsonage  to  close  the  priest's  eyes  for 
him." 

They  shook  hands  and  each  went  his  own  way. 
He  is  clever,"  said  Firnerhans  to  himself;  "  he 
is  taking  advantage  of  the  favourable  opportunity. 
Death   has  already  entered  the  house;   now  he  is 
going  to  shut  it  in  until  the  victim  is  sacrificed." 

The  square  by  the  church  at  Trawies,  where  the 


64  The  God  Seeker 

people  were  usually  seen  bustling  about,  was  to-day- 
empty.  The  sacristan  was  not  at  home.  Only  a 
half-witted  workman  from  Firnerhans'  farm  was 
standing  there,  his  large  hands  thrust  into  his 
trousers'  pockets,  staring  fixedly  at  the  church  and 
the  man  passing  by.  He  puffed  and  wheezed,  for 
he  had  two  enormous  growths  upon  his  neck,  which 
had  given  him  the  name,  "  Three-Headed  Osel." 
He  smiled  in  a  friendly  way  at  Wahnfred,  and 
pointed  towards  the  parsonage.  With  a  sorrowful 
expression,  he  laid  his  cheek  in  his  hand,  imitating 
one  asleep.  He  was  evidently  the  only  one  left  in 
charge  of  the  sick  man ;  and  it  seemed  impossible 
even  for  him  to  gain  access  to  the  priest,  for  the 
parsonage  was  locked.  Wahnfred  knocked  long  and 
loudly,  but  no  one  came  to  open.  From  within  he 
could  hear  nothing  but  the  ticking  of  the  clock 
and  it  seemed  to  him,  once — twice — a  terrified 
groan. 

If  such  is  the  state  of  affairs,  I  shall  be  no 
longer  needed,"  he  murmured,  his  face  growing 
pale.  "  All  human  aid  has  been  cut  off  from  him. 
Are  there  still  human  beings  in  Trawies  ?  Yonder 
on  the  churchyard  wall  towers  the  cross.  Do  we 
not  assemble  there  and  pray,  '  Do  good  unto  those 
that  hate  you'?  Yes,  he  has  been  a  hard  man, 
but  can  an  enemy  be  so  great  that  one  could  be 
capable  of  refusing  him  a  last  draught  of  water  in 
his  death  agony  ?  If  thy  brother  has  sinned  against 
thee,  go  and  reproach  him  with  it  between  thee  and 
himself  alone.  Yes,  I  will  tell  him  how  deeply  he 
has  sinned,   how  he,  as  a  priest  of   God,  has  de- 


The  Crime  65 

stroyed  love  in  our  parish  and  aroused  hate.  And 
then,  I  will  pardon  him." 

Since  that  moment  in  the  thicket  when  he  had 
aimed  at  the  priest  and  had  then  been  overcome  by 
pity  for  him,  he  had  no  longer  felt  that  bitter 
hatred  for  the  man.  The  few  days  now  remaining 
for  Herr  Franciscus  to  live  should  be  a  gift  from 
Wahnfred ;  he  thus  stood  towards  him  as  a  kind  of 
guardian  angel,  and  from  this  relationship  arose  a 
sympathy  for  the  hated  priest. 

As  the  door  could  not  be  opened,  he  went  around 
the  house  to  see  where  he  could  best  effect  an  en- 
trance. At  the  back,  where  the  stalls  connected 
with  the  main  building,  and  where  the  uncared-for 
animals  were  piteously  calling  for  food,  he  climbed 
up  the  wall  to  an  open  window.  He  climbed 
rapidly,  like  a  bloodthirsty  wildcat.  As  he  was 
about  to  swing  himself  into  the  room,  he  started 
back  in  horror.  Death  was  watching  over  the 
house.  Within,  in  the  hall,  directly  under  the  win- 
dow, stretched  upon  a  long  board,  lay  the  dead 
housemaid. 

The  carpenter  imagined  that  at  this  moment  he 
heard  the  gentle  voice  of  his  wife  calling:  "  Wahn- 
fred, turn  back!  "  and  the  cry  of  his  child  :  "  Father, 
do  not  forget  thy  Erlefried!"  But  at  the  same 
moment  he  seemed  to  hear  the  piteous  groaning 
from  a  neighbouring  room.  With  one  quick  bound 
he  sprang  over  the  dead  body  to  the  floor  and  en- 
tered the  apartment. 

Two  rooms  were  empty  and  in  great  disorder. 
Prayer-books,  playing-cards,  dog-whips,  crucifixes, 


66  The  God  Seeker 

and  weapons  /for  the  chase,  on  the  walls  pictures  of 
saints  and  deer-antlers,  spiritual  and  worldly,  were 
jumbled  together  in  confusion.  The  numerous 
cabinets  did  not  seem  large  enough  to  hold  all  the 
worldly  possessions,  for  even  the  tables  were  cov- 
ered with  bales  of  wool  and  linen.  Upon  the  pray- 
ing-desk were  two  wine-glasses,  white  bread,  and 
honey,  as  though  the  ghost  of  disease  had  surprised 
the  inhabitants  of  the  house  at  a  jovial  feast. 

In  the  third  room  Wahnfred  found  the  sick  man. 
He  hardly  recognised  in  him  the  priest.  The  fev- 
erish, swollen  face  was  buried  in  the  pillow,  the 
breathing  was  quick  and  short,  broken  now  and 
then  by  a  groan ;  the  eyes  were  open  and  sunken  in 
their  frightful  sockets,  but  they  were  the  same 
severe,  terrible  eyes,  only  more  restless,  more  fiery. 

*'  Who  is  there  ?  "  he  asked  hoarsely.  "  Every- 
one has  left  me.  Have  I  the  pest  and  is  that  why 
I  am  deserted  ?  " 

"  It  is  Wahnfred,  the  carpenter." 

"  Unload,  unload ;  surely  you  have  brought  some- 
thing with  you  ?  '* 

"  I  see  that  you  have  no  medicine." 

*'  Medicine!  The  tithes  are  for  you  to  bring,  you 
brute!  ' 

With  great  difficulty  he  uttered  the  confused 
words. 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  said  Wahnfred,  who  for 
the  first  time  felt  embarrassed  in  the  presence  of  the 
priest,  "  I  do  not  understand  how,  in  your  con- 
dition, you  can  still  think  of  earthly  things." 

The  sick  man  turned  towards  his  visitor,  and  with 


The  Crime  67 

an  attempt  at  a  smile,  said:  "  Die,  do  you  mean  ? 
Oh,  no,  people  of  Trawies,  that  favour  I  shall  not 
grant  you.     I  must  tame  you  first." 

"  My  dear  priest,"  replied  Wahnfred,  "  let  us  not 
quarrel  about  it.  Human  life  lies  in  God's  hands 
and  you  know  as  well  as  I  what  is  waiting  for  us  in 
eternity.  The  parish  of  Trawies  is  Christian  and 
will  pardon  you." 

The  invalid  now  attempted  to  raise  himself  in 
bed:  "  Pardon  !  "  he  gurgled.  "  Who  are  you  that 
you  should  pardon  ?  Jeering  at  the  priestly  office  ? 
— Heathen!"  He  sank  back  exhausted.  His 
breathing  grew  more  and  more  difficult  and  his  eyes 
rolled ;  soon  after  he  fell  asleep. 

Wahnfred  stood  by  the  bed  not  knowing  what  to 
do.  He  was  filled  with  commiseration  for  the  poor 
man.  He  had  not  comprehended  the  sense  of  his 
words,  but  had  taken  them  as  merely  the  delirium 
of  fever.  He  thought  of  nothing  at  this  moment 
but  that  a  helpless  human  being  was  lying  before 
him.  The  head  of  the  sick  man  was  bent  to  one 
side,  and  Wahnfred  straightened  out  the  pillow, 
that  the  slumberer  might  breathe  more  freely.  He 
then  laid  a  cover,  which  had  fallen  to  the  floor,  over 
him,  opened  the  windows  that  the  fresh  air  might 
penetrate  into  the  room,  and  finally  built  a  fire  in 
the  large  stove  to  prevent  the  chill. 

When  the  fire  was  crackling  gaily,  Wahnfred, 
sitting  at  the  bedside,  thought  of  his  grandfather 
who  had  died  of  the  black  plague,  and  of  the  ter- 
rible times  when  the  "  Great  Death  "  had  half  de- 
populated  the   country.      Folding   his   hands,    he 


68  The  God  Seeker 

murmured:  "  My  God,  how  full  of  misery  is  this 
world !  It  is  not  worth  while  that  we  should  take 
so  seriously  the  little  acts  of  injustice  shown  us  by 
our  fellow-men.  What  matters  a  wound  in  the  arm, 
when  Fate  is  destroying  thousands!  Who  shall 
judge  the  injustice  of  this  world!  Oh,  keep  me, 
my  God,  from  evil  thoughts  and  grant  me  one 
prayer!  Only  one  prayer:  that  we,  who  suffer  to- 
gether, may  stand  by  each  other  in  trouble!  " 

"  Water!  "  groaned  the  sick  man,  without  open- 
ing his  eyes,  "  a  swallow  of  water!  " 

Wahnfred  started  back  in  fear.  He  who,  in  this 
moment  of  emotion,  would  have  been  ready  to 
atone  with  his  own  blood  for  the  sorrows  of  human- 
kind, when  it  was  asked  of  Him  could  not  even 
hand  a  drink  of  water  to  the  thirsting  man.  Must 
he  go  down  to  the  spring,  and  on  his  way  to  the 
window  pass  that  body  of  the  dead  girl  ?  He 
searched  the  house,  he  found  wine,  he  found  milk, 
he  found  cider;  but  he  found  no  water  until  he  had 
broken  open  the  outer  door  and  descended  to  the 
court  below. 

The  invalid  drank  greedily. 

"  That — that  was  good,"  he  sighed,  sinking  back 
on  his  pillow;  "  I  thank  thee  Kunigunde.  And 
now  please  send  that  carpenter  away.  He  has  no 
good  intentions  towards  me." 

This  woman,  who  had  been  with  him  in  his  days 
of  prosperity  and  happiness,  and  who  had  deserted 
him  when  he  was  laid  low, — her  he  thanked,  and  the 
carpenter  he  would  send  away ! 

With  wide-open  eyes  that,  however,  did  not  seem 


The  Crime  69 

to  see,  he  turned  his  face,  one  moment  flushed,  the 
next  deathly  pale,  towards  Wahnfred. 

*'  Will  you,"  he  said,  *'  bring  me  the  paper  which 
is  over  in  that  cabinet — in  the  cabinet,  yes,  in  the 
second  drawer.  This  writing  they  must  not  find. 
Give  it  to  me!  " 

The  last  words  were  uttered  angrily.  Wahnfred 
opened  the  drawer  and  found,  lying  upon  a  pile  of 
books,  afolded  paperwhich  he  handed  tothe  sick  man. 

"  For  me  ?  "  the  invalid  asked  wonderingly.  "  I 
do  not  want  it.  You  must  send  it  to  the  authori- 
ties, but  quickly,  quickly!  " 

"  I  will  do  it,"  answered  Wahnfred. 

The  priest  sank  once  more  into  an  unconscious 
state.  Wahnfred  was  considering  how  help  could 
best  be  obtained  here.  Hastily  descending  the 
steps,  he  left  the  house.  In  a  corner  by  the  neigh- 
bouring church  wall  stood  a  group  of  men,  who,  as 
they  saw  the  carpenter  emerging  from  the  parson- 
age, whispered  hurriedly,  "  Is  he  dead  ? " 

"  We  must  find  a  nurse  for  him,"  said  Wahnfred; 
"  he  needs  help.  I  will  go  down  to  old  Kofel,  the 
herb  doctor,  and  ask  her  to  send  up  some  medicine." 

The  men  started  back  in  astonishment.  Uli,  the 
charcoal-burner,  came  forward  and  whispered  in 
Wahnfred's  ear:  "  Do  you  not  remember  our  com- 
pact in  the  Rabenkirche  ?  " 

I  was  not  thinking  of  that  just  now,"  answered 
Wahnfred.  "  The  priest  caught  the  disease  when 
on  a  visit  of  mercy.  We  could  not  do  it  now,  not 
now.  Comrades,  that  would  be  a  crime!  And  he 
will  die  in  any  case." 


CHAPTER   VII 

IT  was  Hearing  the  Feast  of  All  Saints  and  Wahn- 
fred  busied  himself  constantly  in  his  workshop. 
He  was  making  cofitins. 

The  plague  had  spread  and  hardly  a  day  passed 
when  someone  was  not  laid  to  rest.  There  could 
be  no  priestly  service  now,  and  the  people  re- 
marked: "  See,  how  well  we  get  along  without  it." 

Wahnfred  had  in  stock  some  fine,  white  oaken 
boards;  these  he  was  keeping  for  the  priest-  "  He 
has  his  faults,  still  he  is  our  priest  and  the  Holy 
Order  must  be  honoured." 

But  from  the  parsonage  no  word  came. 

This  put  a  damper  on  the  friendly  feelings  of  the 
carpenter.  He  had  found  in  his  pocket  the  paper 
which  he  had  been  asked  to  take  with  him  on 
that  day  by  the  sickbed.  It  was  addressed  to  the 
high  authorities  and  had  been  written  with  malice 
and  forethought.  It  complained  of  the  people  of 
Trawies  as  a  savage,  rebellious,  and  heathenish  com- 
munity, and  proposed  for  them  the  severest  punish- 
ment. The  writer  demanded  a  number  of  soldiers 
who  should  constantly  be  quartered  in  the  houses 
of  Trawies;  he  requested  permission  to  withhold  the 
last  rites  from  the  dying  until  the  people  showed 

70 


The  Crime  71 

entire  submission;  and  finally  he  asked  that  the 
ringleaders  might  be  banished  and  their  houses  be 
burned  to  the  ground,  as  a  warning  to  the  rest. 
Among  the  ringleaders  he  named :  Gallo  Weiss- 
bucher,  the  fire  guardian,  Bart-from-Tarn,  and 
Wahnfred,  the  carpenter. 

Wahnfred  crumpled  the  paper  in  his  hand  and 
threw  it  into  the  fire.  Involuntarily  he  reached 
after  his  plane  and  the  white,  oaken  boards.  Ban- 
ished !     Their  houses  burned  to  the  ground ! 

On  the  same  day  the  sacristan  issued  a  notice  to 
the  parish. 

As  Wahnfred  saw  the  familiar  messenger  ap- 
proaching the  house,  his  heart  leaped  with  joy  and 
he  glanced  towards  the  white  boards. 

"  Praised  be  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ!"  was  the  man's  earnest  greeting  as  he 
entered. 

"  Throughout  time  and  eternity,  Amen,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  It  's  a  long  way  up  here  to  your  house." 

But  you  probably  bring  good  news  with  you. 
Will  you  not  have  some  refreshments  ?  "  said  Wahn- 
fred, placing  black  bread  and  cider  before  him. 

"  Thank  you,  carpenter  Wahnfred,"  answered 
the  messenger,  gazing  hungrily  at  the  food.  "  And 
I  'm  sure  you  '11  be  pleased  at  what  I  have  to  say. 
To-morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock  the  people  of 
Trawies  are  ordered  to  assemble  in  the  parish 
church  to  pray  for  the  priest." 

"  Is  he  then — dead  ?  "  asked  the  carpenter,  in  an 
agony  of  suspense. 


72  The  God  Seeker 

"  God  forbid!  "  cried  the  messenger;  "  he  is  out 
of  danger.  And  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  has  been 
ordered  for  his  recovery," 

"Liar!"  shouted  Wahnfred;  "you  are  not 
worthy  of  the  bit  of  bread  that  lies  before  you !  " 

"You  may  have  it  back  again,"  said  the  mes- 
senger dejectedly,  laying  the  slice  which  he  was  just 
about  to  eat  back  upon  the  loaf.  "  Such  a  thing 
has  never  happened  to  me  before.  Perhaps  you  are 
annoyed  that  you  have  miscalculated  the  number  of 
coffins  you  were  to  make." 

"  Take  and  eat  it,  man;  it  's  not  your  fault," 
murmured  Wahnfred,  his  anger  dying  away.  "  If 
you  were  in  my  place  you  would  have  no  appetite 
for  bread." 

The  restoratives  and  nursing  that  the  carpenter 
had  provided  for  the  deserted  sick  man  had  been 
the  salvation  of  the  priest,  who,  instead  of  return- 
ing thanks,  cursed  when  he  learned  how  the  carpen- 
ter had  repaid  evil  with  good.  Wahnfred,  thy  part 
of  good  Samaritan  has  become  thy  destruction ! 

Herr  Franciscus,  after  his  recovery,  sat  brooding 
in  his  easy-chair  hours  at  a  time.  His  mind  was  ill 
at  ease.  He  felt  a  still  greater  bitterness  than  be- 
fore towards  the  inhabitants  of  Trawies  and  towards 
himself.  The  evil  thoughts  that  had  taken  up  their 
abode  in  his  heart,  what  a  change  had  they  made  in 
him !  He  who  had  been  so  indifferent  towards  re- 
ligious duties,  could  yet  be  so  fanatical!  He  who 
had  always  desired  more  than  aught  else  personal 
comfort  and  pleasant  society,  could  yet  be  so  strict 
and  tyrannical!     It  was  the  spirit  of  contradiction 


The  Crime  73 

and  defiance;  whoever  arouses  this  demon  within 
himself  can  never  quiet  it  again.  Herr  Franciscus 
no  longer  recognised  his  own  nature.  He  would 
often  resolve  to  make  the  experiment  of  being 
friendly,  but  as  soon  as  he  saw  a  rough  woodsman 
again,  his  gall  would  rise ;  he  could  not  be  friendly 
with  these  people,  for  he  believed  that  they  wished 
him  ill.  And  his  prejudice  grew  to  such  propor- 
tions that  even  when  one  wished  him  well  he  felt 
insulted. 

In  these  moods  it  gave  him  a  pleasure,  such  as  he 
experienced  when  killing  the  creatures  of  the  forest, 
to  wound  someone.  Then  again,  it  seemed  to  him 
that  he  must  revenge  himself  for  having  been  forced 
into  the  priesthood. 

It  was  disclosed  to  him  who,  during  his  illness, 
had  broken  into  his  house,  which  had  been  locked 
by  his  enemies;  who  had  gently  arranged  his  pillow 
under  his  feverish  head ;  who  had  given  him  a  drink 
of  water,  and  who  had  procured  for  him  an  atten- 
tive nurse  and  medicine. 

"  So  then,"  said  Herr  Franciscus,  "  the  carpenter 
has  been  in  my  house  ?  Yes,  yes,  I  imagined 
something  of  the  kind.  That  explains  many  things." 

He  said  no  more,  but  sent  for  Wahnfred  to  come 
to  the  parsonage.  He  came  and  his  mood  was 
again  softened  and  conciliatory.  He  hoped  that 
the  severe  illness  and  the  accompanying  circum- 
stances might  have  changed  the  priest  and  that  the 
obstinate  man  would  at  last  feel  convinced  that  he 
was  only  injuring  himself  and  the  parish  by  re- 
maining. 


74  The  God  Seeker 

At  the  parsonage  the  schoolmaster  and  the  sac- 
ristan were  also  present,  and  the  thanks  which 
awaited  Wahnfred  were  strange  indeed. 

He  entered  politely,  but  remained  by  the  door 
waiting  for  the  priest  to  come  forward.  The  latter, 
in  his  long  robe,  was  standing  by  the  window,  sup- 
porting himself  with  one  hand  on  the  back  of  a 
chair.  His  face  had  grown  thin  and  was  still  pale. 
With  his  sharp  eyes  he  looked  for  a  while  at  his 
visitor. 

"  Well,  come  in,"  he  motioned  finally,  as  if  he 
would  designate  with  his  finger  the  path  the  man 
should  take  across  the  floor;  "  come  in!  You  are 
surely  sufficiently  acquainted  with  my  room ;  it  is 
not  long  since  you  entered  by  the  window." 

"  The  door  was  locked,  and  you,  sir,  were  at  the 
point  of  death." 

And  so  that  was  the  best  opportunity  for  you 
to  rob  my  cabinet  ?  " 

''Jesus  Maria!''  burst  from  Wahnfred's  lips, 
and  he  sprang  a  step  forward. 

"  Don't  get  excited,  carpenter,"  said  the  priest 
quietly,  "  we  will  discuss  this  affair  quite " 

"  I  opened  the  drawer  and  brought  the  paper  at 
your  request!  "  interrupted  Wahnfred. 

"  At  my  request  ?  That  is  a  lie!  I  asked  no- 
thing of  you." 

I  well  believe  that  you  cannot  remember  that," 
said  Wahnfred,  controlling  himself  with  difficulty. 
"  You  were  lying  in  a  fever  and  I  realised  that  you 
were  delirious." 

"  And  yet  you  did  it  ?" 


The  Crime  75 

"  I  was  trying  to  calm  you." 

"  Where  is  the  paper  ?  "  asked  Herr  Franciscus, 
with  an  angry  look. 

"  You  commanded  that  I  should  take  it  with  me 
and  forward  it  to  the  authorities." 

"  And  have  you  done  so  ?  " 

"  I  took  it  with  me,  sir." 

"  And  have  you  sent  it  ?  " 

Wahnfred  answered:  "  What  I  have  to  say 
further  concerning  this  paper,  I  will  leave  for  an- 
other time,  when  we  will  ask  the  men  of  Trawies  to 
be  present." 

Herr  Franciscus  straightened  himself  slowly  and 
crossed  his  arms  upon  his  breast. 

"  People,  I  warn  you !  "  he  said,  with  a  weak  but 
impressive  voice. 

Wahnfred  stood  dumb  and  motionless,  his  defiant 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  twitching  features  of  the  priest. 

"  I  know,"  continued  the  latter,  "  I  know  what 
Trawies  wishes ;  there  is  a  deadly  feud  between  us. 
Carpenter,  you  have  long  had  the  coffin  ready  for 
me!  I  am  not  afraid;  I  shall  perform  my  duty, 
and,  without  swerving,  proceed  on  my  rightful 
path.  He  who  opposes  me  on  this  path  shall  be 
crushed!  I  warn  you  once  again.  If  you  do  not 
submit  to  the  laws  to  which  all  the  world,  both 
high  and  low,  must  submit,  you  shall  be  annihi- 
lated!" 

Wahnfred  remained  dumb  and  motionless. 

And  you,  my  dear  carpenter,  are  not  to  return 
home  to-day.  I  will  teach  you  what  happens  to 
thieves  and  housebreakers.     Seize  him!  " 


76  The  God  Seeker 

The  bailiffs  were  there  in  an  instant.  Now 
Wahnfred  was  aroused ;  to  one  he  gave  a  blow  in 
the  face  with  his  fist,  which  sent  him  reeling  back- 
wards; the  other  he  hurled  against  the  door;  Herr 
Franciscus  he  pushed  away  from  the  window  with 
a  loud  curse,  and,  smashing  the  panes  with  one 
stroke,  he  sprang  out  upon  the  snow. 

Indifferently,  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  Wahn- 
fred walked  through  the  village.  No  one  would 
have  suspected  that  this  was  the  man  whose  heart, 
a  few  moments  before,  had  been  pierced  by  a 
poisoned  arrow. 

*' Thief  and  housebreaker!"  he  murmured. 
"  By  Almighty  God  !  I  have  borne  the  shooting  of 
my  child,  but  this  I  will  not  bear!  " 

The  sound  of  thrashing  was  heard  in  the  barns, 
but  the  thrashers  worked  wearily  and  with  repug- 
nance, for  the  first  grain  which  flew  from  each  ear 
of  corn  flew  into  the  priest's  sack.  Possibly  it  was 
a  slight  exaggeration  when  old  Sandhok  remarked : 
"  Why  should  we  then  complain  ?  The  priest  does 
not  get  the  tithes;  these  we  may  keep  ourselves; 
he  takes  the  rest."  But  it  was  evident  that  Herr 
Franciscus'  sack  was  not  underfilled. 

Consequently  when  the  work  became  distasteful, 
the  people  deserted  flails  and  windmills  and  resorted 
to  the  tavern.  But  even  here  it  was  not  so  lively  as 
in  former  times ;  the  men  sat  around  grumbling,  and 
the  hostess  lost  her  temper  whenever  a  glass  of 
schnapps  was  ordered. 

"  Be  sensible  and  go  home  to  your  work,"  she 
said. 


The  Crime  77 

"  Perhaps  you  're  right,  but  I  don't  want  to  be 
sensible." 

"  And  you,  Baumhackel,  you  don't  get  another 
drop !     You  never  pay !  " 

"  You  seem  to  think  so  hardly  of  me  because  I 
never  pay,  but  you  forget  that  I  've  no  money. 
For  shame,  landlady,  with  all  your  airs  and  yet  so 
unjust!  " 

In  the  corner  by  the  fire  sat  Roderich,  the  tramp. 
He.  was  overwhelmed  with  the  bitterness  of  human 
misery.  To  see  schnapps  and  to  get  none!  The 
landlady  laughed  in  his  face  when  he  begged  for  a 
drink — and  he  was  obliged  to  beg  for  it ;  he  ought 
to  be  happy  to  be  allowed  to  sit  by  the  fire.  He 
was  still  brooding  over  his  idea  of  candles  made  of 
maiden's  hair  and  adder's  fat.  He  could  procure 
the  latter,  but  the  other! — "Firnerhans  has  a  daugh- 
ter," he  thought;  "  she  cannot  be  much  over 
seventeen — a  fresh  young  thing  and  so  quiet  and 
good.  Up  on  the  Johannesberg  her  hair  would 
soon  grow  long.  She  lives  alone  with  her  parents ; 
if  I  could  only  get  her!  What  of  mine  hostess, 
out  there  in  the  kitchen  ;  the  devil  take  her !  She 
is  still  young,  and  one  would  think  she  could  have 
hardly  learned  the  Fourth  Commandment  yet,  but 
she  has  been  at  the  Sixth  a  long  time.  No,  no, 
God  preserve  me  from  such  a  one  as  she !  Firner- 
hans' girl  is  the  one  for  me." 

In  the  doorway  stood  a  stranger.  He  suddenly 
turned  towards  the  landlady,  saying:  "  How  does 
it  happen  that  you  have  so  much  meat  while  I  go 
hungry  ?  "and  his  eyes  stared  at  her  as  he  spoke. 


78  The  God  Seeker 

"  You  undoubtedly  have  a  purse  with  you,"  re- 
plied the  hostess,  who,  having  learned  wisdom  from 
experience,  sought  first  the  money  and  then  the 
"  Kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness." 

"  A  purse!  "  answered  the  stranger.  "  You  peo- 
ple of  Trawies  are  still  thinking  of  such  things  ?  I 
hear  that  the  Trawiesers — as  soon  as  the  strict  priest 
no  longer  stands  in  your  way — intend  to  have  a 
common  purse.     '  What  is  yours  is  mine!  '  " 

"  I  know  nothing  about  such  stuff.  Be  off  with 
you!  "  cried  the  landlady,  poking  the  fire  and  look- 
ing after  the  roast. 

"  You  will  understand  it  soon  enough,"  said  the 
stranger  with  a  threatening  gesture.  "  To-day  you 
drive  a  poor  man  from  your  house,  to-morrow  he 
will  drive  you  out !  "     And  he  departed. 

In  the  meantime  a  quarrel  had  arisen  in  the 
tavern.  Two  men  were  hurling  bad  names  at  each 
other,  for  lack  of  something  better  to  do.  A  third 
man  attempted  to  interfere  and  received  a  beating 
for  his  pains, 

"  We  don't  want  a  judge!  "  they  cried. 

"  Only  wait  till  the  judge  of  Trawies  comes!  " 

"  We  know  no  judge  in  Trawies.  And  we  want 
none!  "  Yes,  in  this  they  all  agreed— they  wanted 
no  judge. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

WHILE  this  dispute  was  going  on  in  the  tavern, 
Wahnfred,  who  had  just  come  from  his  in- 
terview with  the  priest,  passed  by  on  his  way  to  the 
fire  guardian's.  A  few  of  the  older  men  in  the  inn 
rose  and  followed  him. 

The  fire  guardian  was  standing  by  the  spring  in 
front  of  his  house,  holding  an  axe  in  his  hand. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  the  axe  ?  " 
asked  Wahnfred. 

"  Do  you  need  it  ?  "  was  the  reply;  "  if  not,  I  '11 
cut  away  the  ice  from  the  spring;  it  's  frozen  over." 

"  I  have  come,  Gallo,  to  ask  you  if  there  is  no 
longer  a  judge  in  Trawies.  A  wrong  has  been  done 
me.  You  know  how  I  stood  by  the  priest  in  his 
illness.     He  now  calls  me  thief  and  housebreaker." 

"That  serves  you  right!"  laughed  the  fire 
guardian. 

How  so  ?  " 

"  See  here,  if  I  let  my  spring  freeze  over  and  then 
must  go  thirsty,  it  serves  me  right  also,  because 
I  've  been  neglectful.     That  's  as  it  should  be!  " 

"  I  understand  you  perfectly,"  said  Wahnfred, 
approaching  the  old  man,  his  hands  crossed  on  his 
breast.  "  By  God  in  Heaven,  I  cannot  tell  you,  my 

79 


8o  The  God  Seeker 

Gallo, — you  would  not  believe  it, — how  hard  it  is  to 
kill  a  human  being'  " 

The  men  who  had  followed  the  carpenter  from 
the  tavern  now  drew  near. 

Attend  to  your  business,  Wahnfred.    You  have 
every  opportunity,  yet  you  accomplish  nothing'  " 

The  men  then  formed  a  circle  about  him  and 
began • 

"  Do  you  know,  carpenter,  how  long  it  now  is 
since  we  met  in  the  Rabenkirche  ? " 

Do  you  suppose  the  devil  will  take  him  alive  ?  " 

"  Why  don't  you  doit  ?" 

"  We  understand  that  it  is  not  easy  for  you,  but 
God  would  have  helped  you,  had  you  only  not  with- 
drawn your  hand  when  you  reached  it  out  after  his 
throat." 

"  Did  the  lot  call  upon  you  to  nurse  him  back  to 
life  ?  '• 

"  Shall  we  tell  you  of  all  the  insults  he  has 
heaped  upon  us  since  his  illness  ?  At  the  thanks- 
giving service  held  for  his  recovery,  the  church  was 
not  filled,  and  you  can  guess  how  angry  that  made 
him.  A  child  was  born  to  the  daughter  of  Mistress 
Freiwild  and  he  refused  to  baptise  it;  the  young 
mother  has  been  ordered  to  walk  through  the 
church  on  Lady  Day,  wearing  a  wreath  of  straw. 
How  the  unfortunate  girl  is  pining  away!  The 
parish  poor  will  this  winter  be  cut  down  in  their 
portion  of  firewood  which  they  usually  receive  from 
the  forest.  Oh,  take  care;  this  Herr  Franciscus  is 
made  of  the  same  stuff  as  the  burners  of  witches,  as 
the  torturers  and  the  crucifiersr' 


The  Crime  8i 

'  I  know  that,"  interrupted  Wahnfred,  "  I  know 
still  more  than  you."  He  thought  of  the  paper 
which  had  fallen  into  his  hands  and  which  he  had 
thrown  into  the  fire. 

"  Well,  then,  you  will  put  an  end  to  this  mis- 
ery ?  "  cried  one. 

"  Do  you  believe  that  the  misery  will  be  at  an 
end  when  he  is  gone?  I  do  not,"  answered  Wahn- 
fred. 

"  It  can  never  be  worse  than  now.  The  author- 
ities must  be  made  to  see  that  the  people  of  Trawies 
are  as  strong  as  their  old  trees.  There  will  be  a 
storm,  but  it  will  not  injure  the  forest;  only  the 
tree  which  stands  alone  can  be  destroyed.  We  will 
hold  together  and  fight  for  our  ancient  rights." 

"  And  you,  Wahnfred,  do  your  duty!  " 

"  Think  of  the  oath'  Will  you  be  unfaithful  for 
the  sake  of  the  tyrant  ?  Did  your  mother  never  tell 
you  the  story  of  that  man  who  was  forced  to  shoot 
an  apple  from  the  head  of  his  own  son  ?  And  do 
you  know  whom  he  shot  ?     The  tyrant!  " 

"  Men  of  Trawies,  one  thing  I  should  like  to  ask 
you,"  said  Wahnfred. 

"  What  have  you  to  ask  further  ?" 

"  It  will  happen — without  fail." 

"  When,  when,  carpenter  ?" 

"  May  I  have  until  Easter  ?  " 

"  Never.  By  that  time  we  should  be  betrayed 
and  lost." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Wahnfred.  "  Go  home,  peo- 
ple, go  home  and  leave  me  alone.  Eight  days 
from  now  will  be  Lady  Day." 


82  The  God  Seeker 

"'Y^ti  are  right." 

"  (But  we  shall  go  to  church  no  more.  For  after 
Lady  Day  no  service  will  be  held  in  the  church  at 
Trawies!  " 

Upon  your  honour  as  a  man,  Wahnfred,  upon 
your  honour!  " 

Raising  his  right  hand,  Wahnfred  cried  loudly: 
"  His  blood  be  upon  you  and  upon  your  children  !  " 

And  he  turned  and  fled. 

As  he  was  walking  over  the  snowy  road,  gazing 
at  the  red  sun  sinking  below  the  wooded  heights  of 
the  Johannesberg,  he  heard  footsteps  pattering  be- 
hind him. 

Sela,  the  little  daughter  of  the  fire  guardian,  was 
running  after  him.  He  paid  no  heed  to  her,  think- 
ing she  was  on  her  way  to  the  village  to  do  an 
errand.  But  instead  of  following  the  road  thither, 
when  Wahnfred  turned  into  the  path  by  the  river, 
he  found  the  child  still  running  after  him.  She 
was  not  even  warmly  clad,  and  her  little  nose  was 
red,  while  her  beautiful  moist  eyes  threatened  to 
freeze  together  on  this  cold,  winter  evening  walk. 

Wahnfred  now  looked  around,  asking  harshly: 
**  Where  art  thou  going  ?  What  dost  thou  want  ?  " 

The  little  maid  stretched  her  arms  up  towards  his 
head,  as  though  she  would  draw  it  down  to  her  and 
confide  a  secret  in  his  ear. 

So  the  man  stopped  and  leaned  over  the  child, 
who,  throwing  her  arms  about  his  neck,  quickly  and 
boldly  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  his  cheek — and  then 
ran  away. 

She  returned  by  the  same  road  she  had  come  and 


The  Crime  S^ 

Wahnfred  stood  looking  after  her  as  long  as  she 
was  in  sight,  scarcely  knowing  what  had  happened 
to  him.  This  kiss  had  so  warmed  his  heart.  Was 
it  not  an  omen  ?  Could  a  man  whom  a  child  kissed 
be  a  murderer  ?  Or  was  it  meant  as  a  warning  ? 
Innocence  had  once  more  embraced  him  and  had 
implored:  "  Ah,  stay  thy  hand!  Think  of  the  holy 
joys  of  thine  own  childhood  !  Think  of  the  quiet 
happiness  of  thy  youth !  Innocence  is  a  gift  of 
God — until  to-day  hast  thou  carried  it  in  thy  heart. 
Thou  art  well  acquainted  with  suffering,  but  not 
with  unhappiness.  Do  not  make  a  mistake;  the 
so-called  manly  deeds  are  for  the  most  part  acts  of 
unkindness  and  inconsiderateness  towards  our  fel- 
low-men. Remain  a  child.  In  danger,  and  when  our 
passions  threaten  to  overcome  us,  the  child  is 
stronger  than  the  man.  Across  the  wild,  heated 
deserts  of  this  earth  winds  a  peaceful  path,  shaded 
by  palms  and  bordered  by  lilies,  roses,  and  myrtle 
— it  is  the  path  of  our  Lord.  Take  it,  and  it  will 
lead  thee  far  away  from  the  misery  of  crime  to  the 
heart  of  God." 

Ah,  how  alluring  are  such  thoughts!  And  how 
easy  it  would  be  to  follow  their  guidance  !  "  Warn 
the  tyrant  ?  Be  false  to  my  oath,  break  my  word 
before  God  and  my  comrades, — would  that  be 
right  ?  I  have  not  chosen  to  do  this  deed ;  it  has 
been  allotted  to  me;  God  has  called  me.     I  come." 

Struggling  thus  with  himself,  Wahnfred  walked 
along  by  the  Trach,  on  into  the  night.  The  water 
was  murmuring  softly  under  its  covering  of  ice, 
which  reached  from  shore  to  shore.    It  was  bitterly 


^4  The  God  Seeker 

cold  in  the  narrow  ravine,  and  the  wind  cut  the  face 
of  the  wanderer.  He  wrapped  his  cloak  closer 
about  him  and  pressed  his  hat  down  over  his  fore- 
head. The  road  was  rough  with  the  frozen  snow, 
dreary  and  deserted.  High  in  the  branches  the 
croaking  of  a  raven  was  now  and  then  heard  ;  it  flew 
a  number  of  times  over  Wahnfred's  head  as  though 
accompanying  him.  Could  it  be  one  of  the  ravens 
from  the  Rabenkirche  ?  Had  it  heard  the  oath  ? 
Was  it  waiting  for  its  fulfilment  ? 

Wahnfred  stepped  out  upon  the  river;  it  was 
white  with  the  hoar-frost  which  had  formed  during 
the  previous  chilly  days  of  fog,  and  it  crackled 
under  his  feet.  This  smooth,  slippery  way,  broken 
only  here  and  there  by  a  projecting  stone,  led  up  to 
his  abode. 

"  If  this  be  a  crime,"  he  thought,  "  then  will  the 
ice  break  under  my  feet — and  all  will  be  well." 

The  moon  was  shining  between  the  high  mount- 
ains, whose  steep,  shadowy  slopes  with  their  jagged 
outline  of  tree-tops  rose  on  either  side.  Pure  and 
bright  it  looked  down  from  the  dark  evening  sky. 
And  dusky,  uneven  shadows  moved  upon  the  ice 
behind  the  wanderer. 

"  I  may  not  wait  until  Easter,"  said  Wahnfred, 
"  and  I  had  hoped  that  he  might  make  his  Easter 
confession  first.  They  would  do  away  with  him, 
and  at  once;  no  one  cares  how  it  stands  with  his 
soul.  Mein  Gott,  how  often  we  think  that  it  is  only 
the  body  of  man  that  we  destroy,  when  at  the 
same  time  we  plunge  the  soul,  if  it  be  not  prepared 
for  death,   into   everlasting   punishment.      I   am   a 


The  Crime  85 

Christian  and  will  act  as  such.  He  who  has  fallen 
into  my  hands  shall  expiate  his  sins  with  his  mortal 
blood  and  shall  then  enter  into  the  life  eternal.  O 
light  of  the  moon,  thou  reachest  to  the  very  gates 
of  heaven, — say  to  my  Creator  that  my  heart  is  pure. 
In  the  far-distant  past  thou  didst  once  shine  upon 
a  grove  of  myrrh  and  palms.  Peace  lay  over  all  on 
that  summer  night  and  the  trees  were  still  clothed  in 
their  first  spring  green.  Two  men  appear,  inhaling 
the  balmy  air.  The  head  of  one  is  crowned  by  a 
wreath  of  red  and  white  roses;  the  other,  by  a  wild 
mane  of  flowing  hair.  One  has  girt  his  loins  with 
the  skin  of  a  gazelle ;  the  other,  with  that  of  a  bear. 
They  do  not  disturb  the  peace  of  the  slumbering 
garden ;  they  come  from  the  altar  where  they  have 
offered  a  sacrifice;  one,  the  flesh  of  the  gazelle 
whose  skin  he  wears,  and  the  fruits  of  the  tree 
whose  leaves  he  has  wound  about  his  head.  He  has 
done  it  in  love  and  humility  and  the  Lord  has  re- 
ceived the  sacrifice  and  smiled  upon  him.  The 
other  has  offered  the  flesh  of  the  bear  whose  skin 
he  wears,  and  the  lamb  destroyed  by  the  bear,  and 
he  has  torn  up  a  bush  by  its  roots  and  sacrificed  it 
with  both  the  flowers  and  fruit,  repeating  the  words: 
'  Lord,  see,  I  give  Thee  more  than  he  who  stands 
at  my  side.'  But  the  Lord  disdains  the  offering  in 
anger.  Thus  they  wander  through  the  grove  and 
find  no  peace.  The  one  is  restless  from  happiness; 
the  other,  from  envy.  At  length  they  come  to  a 
cedar-tree  from  which  the  man  with  the  flowing 
mane  breaks  off  a  large  branch.  '  Why,  my 
brother,'  asks  the  other,  '  why  do  you  despoil  this 


86  The  God  Seeker 

beautiful  tree  ? '  *  O,  thou  innocent  youth,'  says 
the  man  with  the  hair,  '  why  should  I  show  pity  for 
the  wood  ?  Dost  thou  not  know  that  with  the 
leaves  and  twigs  I  am  going  to  weave  a  garland  for 
thy  fair  brow  and  for  thy  pure  breast,  thou  darling 
of  the  Lord  ?  '  He  weaves  the  garland,  and  placing 
it  on  the  fair  brow  and  pure  breast  of  his  resisting 
brother,  says:  '  Do  not  resist,  for  that  which  I  do 
unto  thee  is  for  the  glory  of  Him  who  loves  thee 
so. '  And  when  he  is  crowned  and  in  humility  turns 
his  young  eyes  upward  to  the  gleaming  stars,  the 
man  with  the  flowing  hair,  seizing  the  leafless 
branch,  strikes  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  head  of  his 
companion,  who,  without  a  sound,  falls  upon  the 
dewy  grass.  The  other,  stretching  out  his  arms 
with  clenched  fists,  cries  with  a  shrill  voice:  '  Is 
this  sacrifice  not  enough  for  Thee  ? '  " 

"No,  Eternal  God!"  cried  Wahnfred,  starting 
from  his  dream,  "  not  thus  will  I  sacrifice.  In  Thy 
wrath  wilt  Thou  require  the  brother  at  the  hand  of 
this  murderer  who  has  struck  a  blow  at  love.  I  am 
free  from  hatred  and  envy ;  I  send  him  who  cannot 
work  to  Thy  glory  upon  earth  to  his  heavenly  home, 
where  Thou  wilt  receive  him  and  show  him  mercy." 

Thus  he  walked  on,  the  hoar-frost  crackling  un- 
der his  feet,  but  the  ice  remaining  firm.  At  a  bend 
in  the  river  the  moon  was  hidden  behind  the  forest ; 
the  ravine  was  dark  and  gloomy  and  upon  the 
mountain  slopes  was  reflected  the  pale,  misty  light. 

Wahnfred  prayed:  'Blessed  is  the  man  that 
walketh  not  in  the  counsels  of  the  ungodly.  .  .  . 
But  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord. 


The  Crime  87 

"  '  The  foolish  shall  not  stand  in  thy  sight.  .  .  . 
Lead  me,  O  Lord,  in  thy  righteousness  because 
of  mine  enemies ;  make  thy  way  straight  before  my 
face. 

"  '  For  there  is  no  faithfulness  in  their  mouth. 
Destroy  thou  them,  O  God ;  let  them  fall 
by  their  own  counsels;    cast  them  out  in  the  multi- 
tude of  their  transgressions. 

For  the  wicked  boasteth  of  his  heart's  desire, 
and  blesseth  the  covetous,  whom  the  Lord  abhor- 
reth. 

He  hath  said  in  his  heart,  I  shall  not  be  moved; 
for  I  shall  never  be  in  adversity. 

His  mouth  is  full  of  curses  and  deceit  and 
fraud. 

Arise,  O  Lord;  O  God,  lift  up  thine  hand; 
forget  not  the  humble.' 

"  Thus  prayed  the  psalmist  and  the  player  upon 
the  harp.  Sitting  at  the  feet  of  the  sick  King  Saul, 
he  entertained  him  with  the  shepherd  songs  from 
his  peaceful  meadows.  But  when  the  enemy  ap- 
proached, accompanied  by  a  mighty  giant,  challen- 
ging sorne  adversary  to  single  combat,  the  armed 
hosts  drew  back  and  the  little  shepherd  and  songs- 
ter appeared  in  their  midst,  saying:  '  Does  no  one 
else  dare — then  will  I  destroy  this  monster!  '  With 
loud  jeers  they  replied:  Let  him  try;  he  is  but  a 
shepherd  lad  and  his  death  would  be  no  loss  to  the 
land  and  no  dishonour  to  us."  The  giant  was  slain 
by  the  shepherd,  and  how  did  God  reward  his 
deed  ?  David  became  king  and  to-day  sits  in  Zion 
among  the  holiest  of  the  saints.     Yet  he  took  no 


88  The  God  Seeker 

thought  for  the  soul  of  his  enemy.  I  will  be  more 
Christian!  " 

As  Wahnfred  walked,  reflecting  thus  upon  the 
delusive  stories  of  the  Old  Testament,  the  valley 
widened ;  he  sprang  upon  the  bank  and  was  at 
home. 

A  ruddy  light  from  the  fireplace  greeted  him 
through  the  window  of  his  house.  The  moon  was 
surrounded  by  a  pale,  milk-white  circle;  icicles  were 
falling  from  the  trees,  and  upon  the  Trach  that 
night  the  ice  cracked. 

It  was  long  after  dawn  the  next  morning,  and 
Wahnfred  was  still  in  bed.  His  wife  crept  anxiously 
around  the  room,  but  at  last,  discovering  that  her 
husband  was  awake,  she  asked  him  if  he  were  ill ;  he 
had  slept  so  restlessly  and  had  spoken  aloud  in  his 
dreams. 

"  In  my  dreams  ?  What  did  I  say  ?  "  demanded 
Wahnfred. 

"  *  The  ice  is  breaking,' — several  times  thou  didst 
say  it.  Is  it  possible  that  thou  canst  have  heard  it 
from  way  down  in  the  valley  ?  For  the  weather  has 
changed  and  the  ice  is  breaking  up  all  over  the 
Trach." 

"  Is  it  breaking  ?  "  asked  Wahnfred,  rising  from 
his  pillow.  "  It  was  so  thin  as  that !  Wife,  I  came 
the  whole  way  from  Trawies  on  the  Trach." 

"  Jesus  Maria  !  "  cried  the  woman,  "  That  ex- 
plains why  I  was  so  nervous  and  anxious  last  night." 

"  Wife,"  said  Wahnfred,  reaching  out  his  hand, 
"  there  is  a  calendar  on  the  shelf  over  there;  hand 
it  here,  please." 


The  Crime  89 

She  did  so  and  as  she  opened  the  book  at  the 
month  of  December,  she  exclaimed  with  astonish- 
ment: "  Why,  husband,  it  is  certainly  true  that 
thou  art  growing  careless  in  thy  religious  duties; 
thou  hast  not  even  delivered  thy  confessional  certi- 
ficate at  the  parsonage.     Look,  here  it  is!  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  see  it.  I  delivered  it  all  right. 
How  can  I  help  it  if  the  priest  pays  no  attention  to 
what  one  gives  him  ?  By  some  stupid  mistake  my 
certificate  has  come  back  to  me." 

"  Whichever  way  one  looks,"  said  she,  "  things 
are  different  from  what  they  used  to  be." 

**  Yes,  the  times  are  changed.  And  they  will 
change  still  more,  wife.     Now,  thou  canst  go." 

Shaking  her  head,  she  slowly  left  his  bedside. 
Wahnfred  opened  the  calendar,  murmuring  to  him- 
self:  "  To-day  is  Advent  and  the  Feast  of  the  holy 
Bishop  St.  Eloy.  In  his  youth  a  goldsmith,  he 
afterwards  became  a  penitent,  wearing  a  garment  of 
haircloth  and  fighting  against  the  heretics.  He  is 
not  the  one.  To-morrow,  the  second  day  of  Ad- 
vent, we  celebrate  the  Feast  of  the  holy  maid,  St. 
Firmina,  who  was  a  Roman  lady  of  .great  beauty. 
As  the  governor  of  the  province  once  attempted  to 
embrace  her,  both  his  arms  were  lamed  by  God's 
almighty  power.  So  Emperor  Diocletian  ordered 
her  body  to  be  singed  with  burning  torches  until 
she  died.  It  may  be  that  she  is  of  great  assistance 
in  times  of  need,  but  she  has  nothing  to  do  with  my 
affair.  The  third  day  of  Advent  the  Church  cele- 
brates the  Feast  of  St.  Francis  Xavier.  He  con- 
verted  savages  to   Christianity,  was  a  most  holy 


9^  The  God  Seeker 

man,  and  had  himself  scourged  until  he  bled.  He 
is  our  priest's  patron  saint  and  would  probably 
espouse  his  cause  at  once.  On  the  fourth  day  is 
the  Feast  of  St.  Barbara,  who  was  martyred  and 
beheaded  by  heathen.  She  belongs  to  the  Vierzehn 
Nothelfer,^  and  is  the  patron  saint  for  the  dying. 
She  is  the  right  one.  She  will  take  care  of  his 
soul." 

He  let  fall  the  hand  holding  the  calendar;  he  lay 
back  against  his  pillow  with  closed  eyes — he  seemed 
to  be  sleeping  again. 

Suddenly  he  sat  up  and  said:  "  So  be  it;  now  am 
I  resolved.     On  the  fourth  day  of  Advent." 

Later  in  the  morning  the  carpenter  stopped  a 
messenger  who  occasionally  came  up  to  this  region 
from  Neubruck,  and  asked  him  if  he  were  going 
into  Trawies. 

"  Yes,  for  I  have  an  errand  at  the  parsonage." 

"  Would  you  be  so  good  as  to  take  something  to 
the  priest  for  me  ?  " 

"  If  it  is  not  too  heavy.  You  see  I  'm  no  longer 
as  young  and  spry  as  I  was  once." 

"  It  is  money." 

'*  Then  it  can't  be  very  heavy." 

"  Here,  it  is  paper;  there  are  fifty  Schinderlinge 
to  pay  for  a  rorate  on  St.  Barbara's  Day." 

"  A  rorate,'"  said  the  messenger.  "  I  can't  change 
the  money." 

"  There  is  no  change," 

**  But  it  costs  only  thirty-five." 

"  He  never  lets  us  have  it  under  fifty." 
*  Fourteen  saints.     Helpers  in  need. 


The  Crime  9  J 

"  Very  well,  I  will  do  your  errand,  and  from 
whom  shall  I  say  ?  " 

"  You  don't  know  me  ?  Well,  then  you  need  not 
say  who  sent  the  money.  Only  that  someone 
wishes  a  r  or  ate  read  on  St.  Barbara's  Day  for  a  cert- 
ain person,  that  he  may  die  a  happy  death." 

"  I  will  attend  to  it."  And  the  messenger  went 
on  his  way. 

Wahnfred  remained  standing,  looking  after  the 
man  and  thinking  to  himself:  "  I  can  do  no  more. 
When  he  is  at  the  altar,  reading  mass  and  offering 
the  prayer  of  reconciliation  to  his  God ;  when  he  is 
breaking  the  bread  and  drinking  the  wine  and  smit- 
ing his  breast  in  sorrow  and  penitence ;  when  he  is 
thinking  of  the  final  hour  of  the  person  for  whom 
he  is  reading  mass;  and  when,  with  outstretched 
arm,  he  turns  once  more  towards  the  people  to 
say,  '  The  Lord  be  with  you !  '  — that  will  be  the 
moment  for  God  to  call  him  to  Himself." 

The  second  day  in  Advent  Wahnfred  was  work- 
ing as  usual  in  his  shop.  His  wife  was  anxious  be- 
cause he  was  so  pale  and  silent  and  would  eat  no 
food.     She  suggested  sending  for  the  herb  doctor. 

"Herb  doctor!"  laughed  Wahnfred.  Then  he 
said  harshly :  "  Who  can  force  me  to  eat  and  to 
talk  ?  "  and  he  left  the  house. 

The  third  day  in  Advent  he  called  Erlefried.  "  I 
need  thee,  my  boy."  They  went  to  the  grindstone. 
"  Take  hold  of  the  handle,  Erlefried,  and  turn  it  for 
me." 

The  lad  turned  the  wheel-shaped  stone,  which 
revolved  upon  its  frame  in  a  trough  full  of  water, 


92  The  God  Seeker 

Wahnfred  holding  the  blade  of  a  broad  axe  against 
it. 

"  Art  thou  going  to  fell  trees,  father  ?  "  asked  the 
hoy. 

Wahnfred  replied,  "  Don't  talk,  but  turn!  "  He 
pressed  the  heavy  axe  so  firmly  against  the  stone 
that  the  weak  arms  of  the  lad  were  scarcely  able  to 
move  it. 

At  last  the  blade  was  sharp  and  gleamed  like 
silver.  It  curved  outward  into  two  points,  had  a 
short  handle  of  maple-wood,  and  the  neck,  where  it 
was  joined  to  the  handle,  was  of  thick,  heavy  iron, 
through  which  a  hole  had  been  bored.  By  this  hole 
Wahnfred  now  hung  it  upon  a  nail  high  up  on  the 
wall. 

Towards  evening  he  found  his  wife  busy  greasing 
her  shoes. 

"  Art  thou  going  out  ?  "  asked  Wahnfred;  "  and 
where,  right  in  the  middle  of  the  week  ?  " 

"  I  see  very  well,  husband,  that  thy  thoughts  are 
no  longer  where  they  should  be,"  she  answered, 
with  a  gentle  reproach  in  her  voice;  "  a  Christian 
surely  ought  not  to  forget  the  holy  Feast  of  St. 
Barbara." 

**  That  is  to-morrow,  I  know." 

"  So  one  of  us  must  go  to  church." 

"  My  good  wife,"  he  said,  '*  stay  at  home  to- 
morrow. Thou  seest  it  is  snowing,  and  before 
morning  the  roads  may  be  blocked." 

"  The  road  to  heaven  is  never  the  easiest." 

*'  Going  to  church  will  not  send  us  to  heaven." 

*'  But  staying  away  will  damn  us." 


The  Crime  93 

"  Thou  art  right,  only  thou  must  not  forget  thy 
household  duties." 

"  When  thou  art  at  home,  Wahnfred,  I  am  never 
worried  about  anything." 

"To-morrow  I  shall  not  beat  home,"  he  said; 
"  I  must  leave  early.  And  as  I  am  going  to  Tra- 
wies,  probably  I  shall  go  to  mass  myself.  I  think, 
wife,  it  will  suffice  if  one  of  us  goes  to  church." 

"  Very  well,"  she  replied. 

"  I  am  going  to  set  the  clock  right,"  said  her 
husband.  "  If  thou  art  awake,  wife,  when  it  strikes 
one,  rouse  me." 

"  Wahnfred,  what  art  thou  going  to  do  at  mid- 
night ?  " 

"  When  it  strikes  one,  wake  me." 


CHAPTER   IX 

UPON  the  Rockenberg,  opposite  the  wild  preci- 
pices of  the  Trasank,  stood  the  house  of 
Rocken-Paul,  whose  serving-man  Simon  was  a 
handsome,  lively  youth. 

During  the  winter,  when  the  days  are  short  and 
the  nights  long,  the  young  men  on  the  Rockenberg 
and  on  the  other  mountains  are  in  the  best  of  spirits. 
The  wood  for  the  winter  is  piled  up  about  the 
houses,  the  small  amount  of  grain  is  ground,  and 
the  people  are  not  sorry  that  Christmastide,  with  all 
its  accompanying  services,  is  at  hand. 

On  this  particular  morning  the  cock  was  crowing 
as  usual  to  arouse  the  men  to  their  work;  but 
Simon  said  to  himself:  "  To-day  I  will  thresh  the 
straw  with  my  own  feet!"  and  he  stamped  gaily 
upon  his  bed. 

The  cock  was  once  more  silent,  but  not  so  the 
young  man's  hunger,  "  so,  in  Gottesnainen,  let  us  get 
up,  Simon  " — and  he  softly  ran  across  the  yard  to 
the  kitchen,  where  all  the  women,  as  is  the  custom 
before  the  holidays,  were  busy  with  hands  and 
tongues,  washing,  scouring,  and  grumbling. 

And  Simon  appeared  just  at  the  right  moment  to 
be  in  their  way.     He  saw  that  breakfast  was  not 

94 


The  Crime  95 

ready ;  there  are  three  fasts  during  Advent,  but  to 
offset  this  when  Christmas  comes  there  will  be  a 
feast. 

He  seated  himself  by  the  hearth  to  melt  some 
lard  with  which  to  grease  his  boots. 

"  Perhaps  you  'd  like  to  be  steamed  a  little  ?  " 
cried  one  of  the  women,  spattering  him  with  the 
wet  clothes. 

''You  '11  get  finely  paid  for  that!"  laughed 
Simon,  fleeing,  but  no  farther  than  the  chimney 
corner. 

"  To-morrow  will  be  St.  Barbara's  Day,  when  one 
must  go  to  church,"  he  thought.  It  then  occurred 
to  him  that  now,  while  he  had  the  time,  would  be  a 
good  opportunity  to  shave  himself.  He  soon  col- 
lected the  utensils.  He  inflated  his  soapy  cheeks  to 
give  the  necessary  tension  to  the  skin  ;  he  stretched 
his  mouth  from  ear  to  ear;  he  closed  one  eye  and 
with  the  other  looked  over  at  the  women,  thinking: 
"Just  give  me  time,  I  '11  have  one  of  you  yet!  " 
His  moustache  he  left  untouched,  for,  when  he 
visited  Liesele,  she  liked  to  nibble  it.  The  two 
tufts  under  his  ears  he  also  left ;  they  give  one  an  air 
from  whichever  side  they  are  viewed.  Now  it  was 
a  question  what  should  be  done  with  the  tuft  on  his 
lower  lip.  Some  like  it  and  some  have  the  super- 
stition that  men  with  an  imperial  are  not  "  smart." 
If  that  is  so! — and  drawing  his  underlip  over  his 
teeth,  off  came  the  tuft. 

"Bring  me  some  cold  water!"  ordered  Simon. 
And  soon  a  basin  of  fresh  spring  water,  with  bits  of 
ice  still  floating  in  it,  stood  before  him. 


96  The  God  Seeker 

Bending  over  he  plunged  his  head  into  the  bowl. 
He  heard  and  saw  nothing,  and  when  he  stood  erect 
once  more  the  water  was  trickling  from  his  curly 
locks  and  handsome  face,  and  we  will  not  relate 
what  the  women  thought  about  it,  for  the  women 
on  the  Rockenberg  and  on  all  the  other  mountains 
sometimes  think  aloud.  The  lad  then  proceeded 
with  his  toilet  and  washed  and  scrubbed  neck  and 
shoulders  with  all  his  strength  until  his  quick  pant- 
ing was  heard  over  the  entire  kitchen. 

When  he  had  finished  he  felt  as  though  newly 
born,  like  Adam  before  his  rib  was  taken  from  him. 
And  in  thinking  of  this,  a  joke  of  the  schoolmas- 
ter's occurred  to  him.  "  If  God  can  make  a  woman 
out  of  a  rib,  then  every  man  is  created  to  have 
twelve  women  at  his  right  hand  and  twelve  at  his 
left,  for  he  has  that  many  ribs." 

The  schoolmaster  had  said  this,  and  yet  he  had 
deserted  the  one  wife  he  had  married. 

What  were  Simon's  thoughts  on  the  subject  ? 
Well,  he  decided  to  eat  his  breakfast  first. 

As  the  weather  outside  was  stormy  and  the  wood 
was  crackling  so  merrily  in  the  tile  stove,  Rocken- 
Paul  and  his  man  sat  down  after  breakfast  to  a 
game  of  cards.  Each  one  found  it  easy  to  play,  but 
difficult  to  win,  for  each  knew  both  sides  of  the 
cards.  It  were  indeed  a  pity  not  to  know  one's  best 
friends  from  all  sides! 

They  were  playing  for  hazel-nuts,  which  in  the 
evening  they,  together  with  the  women,  would  crack 
and  eat. 

But  Rocken-Paul's  wife  had  something  else  to  do 


The  Crime  97 

to-day.  It  was  the  eve  of  the  Feast  of  St.  Barbara, 
when  a  branch  from  the  wild-cherry  tree  must  be 
broken  off  and  brought  into  the  house.  On  Christ- 
mas eve  there  would  be  snow-white  blossoms  on  the 
branch.  And  what  did  the  blossoms  signify  ? 
Rocken-Paul's  wife  knew  well. 

"  If  to-morrow  is  the  Feast  of  St.  Barbara,"  said 
Rocken-Paul,  "  then  some  of  us  must  go  to 
church." 

"  There  's  no  pleasure  in  going  to  church  now," 
replied  his  wife,  "  with  such  a  man  standing  at  the 
altar." 

"  I  hear  that  a  rorate  has  been  ordered  for  some- 
one's happy  death." 

**  I  think  I  '11  go,"  said  Simon,  "  but  not  without 
a  rosary  in  one  hand  and  a  stick  in  the  other." 

"  You  're  not  going  to  get  into  a  fight,  I  hope.  " 

"If  I  could  only  once  get  hold  of  him!  He 
would  not  even  have  a  chance  to  cry  out!  " 

They  knew  whom  he  meant  and  were  silent. 
When  the  talk  was  of  hiniy  even  the  gay  Simon 
could  be  savage. 

"  He  does  n't  trust  me,"  he  murmured,  rising 
from  the  table;  "  there  should  be  no  trifling  in  re- 
ligious matters.  Now,  last  Sunday  I  went  to  Ad- 
vent confession,  and  for  the  third  time  I  've  received 
no  absolution.  I  won't  stand  being  trifled  with  so; 
he  refuses  to  trust  me.  " 

On  the  following  morning  Paul  knocked  with  his 
stick  on  the  man's  door.  It  was  still  early  and 
Simon  had  just  begun  an  entertaining  dream.  He 
was  almost  sorry  that   he  had  promised   to  go  to 


9^  The  God  Seeker 

church.  "  But,"  he  thought,  "  a  happy  death  is 
not  to  be  despised,  and  I  '11  stop  down  at  Schum- 
mel-Zens's  house  and  drink  some  schnapps. "  So  he 
sprang  out  of  bed  and  dressed  quickly.  He  hastily 
swallowed  the  warm  oatmeal  porridge  which  was 
ready  for  him  and  started  on  his  way. 

Snowflakes  flew  into  his  face  as  he  opened  the 
door;  the  road  was  blocked  and  the  wind  howling. 
With  difficulty  he  worked  his  way  down  to  the 
Rockenbach;  by  the  banks  of  this  stream  under  the 
trees  the  walking  was  better.  After  a  while  Simon 
began  to  notice  the  pungent  smoke  from  a  charcoal- 
pit,  which  furnished  coal  to  the  blacksmith  in 
Trawies.  Near  by  stood  the  little  house  of  Schum- 
mel-Zens,  who,  with  his  daughter,  looked  after  the 
pit.      A  light  was  shining  from  the  window. 

"  So,  then,  Zens  is  already  awake  and  I  shall  get 
my  schnapps  to  drink." 

He  approached  the  door  and  opened  it.  A  breath 
of  warm  air  was  wafted  into  his  face ;  a  lamp  was 
burning  in  the  room. 

"  Good  morning  to  you,  Zens." 

But  Zens  was  not  there;  instead,  his  daughter, 
Han,  of  the  tawny  hair,  was  standing  before  a 
mirror  braiding  her  locks.  Her  neck  was  bare,  a 
snowy  smock  covering  the  tender  young  shoulders 
and  bosom. 

Softly  closing  the  door  behind  him,  Simon  re- 
mained motionless.  She  did  not  turn ;  she  saw  in 
the  mirror  who  was  there.  How  strange  that  she 
should  have  been  thinking  of  him  just  then  L 

"  Han,"  said  the  lad,  "  up  so  early?  " 


The  Crime  99 

"  As  thou  seesti  Early  rising,  early  Courting,  no 
regretting,"  she  replied. 

"  That  *s  what  I  think  too." 

"  What  dost  thou  want  then  ?  "  she  asked  with- 
out turning  her  head. 

"  If  thy  father  were  here,  I  should  like  a  swallow 
of  brandy." 

"  Father  's  gone  to  church." 

"  And  thou  art  keeping  house  here  all  alone, 
Han  ?" 

"  Why  not  ?  And  Simon  is  certainly  going  to 
church  too;  then  Simon  must  hurry.  The  cock  has 
already  crowed." 

If  that  's  so,  it  will  be  dark  for  three  hours  yet '; 
it  's  so  unsafe  at  night  now,  Han,  I  will  not  leave 
thee  alone." 

"  Thanks,"  was  her  reply;  "  such  a  watchman 
would  be  much  like  putting  a  fox  into  the  hen- 
house." 

"  Ah,  how  quick  thou  art!  All  the  better,  long 
persuasion  won't  be  necessary.  I  '11  stay  with  thee 
and  tell  thee  something  which  I  've  had  on  my  mind 
for  a  long  time.  '  Early  courting,  no  regretting.' 
Thou  hast  said  it  thyself." 

"  It  's  only  a  proverb." 

But  it  's  mine.  Little  girl,  wilt  thou  be  my 
sweetheart  ?  "  Taking  her  head  in  his  hands,  he 
said:  "  Darling,  look  at  me!"  She  looked  up  at 
the  bold,  handsome,  merry  lad, 

"  Take  off  thy  snowy  coat  first,  thou  awkward 
boy;  thou  art  wetting  me  through  and  through!  " 

"  Thou  art  right,  I  don't  need  the  coat."     He 


loo  The  God  Seeker 

threw  the  garment  from  him,  rattling  the  walnuts  irt 
the  pockets. 

Hast  thou  some  nuts  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  's  quite  possible,  sweetheart;  wouldst  thou 
like  some  ?  " 

"  I  don't  exactly  dislike  them." 

"That  'sgood." 

He  made  himself  comfortable  as  if  he  were  at 
home. 

A  gentleman  would  ask  first,"  said  the  girl. 
Ask  ?  "  said  he. 

'"  Whether  he  might  stay." 

You  women  never  know  a  gentleman  when  you 
see  one.  But  I  don't  ask  long  for  that  which  be- 
longs to  me  already." 

Thou  thinkest  then  that  this  room  belongs  to 
thee  ?  Ha,  that  makes  me  laugh !  But  I  will  say, 
Simon,  if  I  wanted  a  young  man,  thou  wouldst  not 
be  the  last — but  I  don't  want  one." 

Sweetheart,  do  not  throw  him  away.  Despised 
bread  has  to  be  eaten  sometimes." 

"  Oh,  thou  little  fool;  if  I  had  to  eat  all  that  I 
have  already  thrown  away!  That  would  be  hard 
luck." 

"  I  would  n't  advise  thee  to  have  more  than  one, 
but  one  is  worth  a  good  deal.     May  I  smoke  ?  " 

He  lighted  his  pipe  at  the  stove,  murmuring  into 
his  pipe-stem,  "  He  won't  absolve  me  anyway,  so 
it  's  all  the  same  in  the  end." 

The  cock  crowed  a  second  time. 

"  If  thou  wilt  not  go  away,"  said  the  charcoal- 
burner's  beautiful  daughter,  "  then  thou  must  help 


The  Crime  loi 

me  read  the  Litany,  while  the  service  is  going  on  in 
the  church." 

"  Of  course  I  will,  sweetheart;  we  ought  to  do 
that,  of  course." 

"  Although  thou  art  a  very  bad  young  man, 
there  's  one  thing  I  can  say  for  thee :  thou  art  a 
good  Christian." 

*'  Certainly  I  am.  But  let  me  ask  thee  first,  dar- 
ling, shall  we  do  our  love-making  before  or  after  the 
Litany  ? " 

The  girl  turned  towards  him  and  as  she  raised  her 
arms  behind  her  head  to  fasten  her  hair, — her  soft, 
heavy,  gleaming  hair, — thus  revealing  the  beautiful 
outline  of  her  figure,  she  said :  "  My  dear  Simon,  no 
good  spirit  has  led  thee  here  to-day.  If  thou  goest 
now  it  will  not  be  too  late.  See,  the  others  have 
gone  to  church  and  are  praying.  Thou  'It  be  sorry 
for  it,  should  the  time  ever  come  when  thou  couldst 
no  longer  stop  at  Schummel-Zens's  house,  but 
wouldst  have  to  take  another  path  from  the  Rock- 
enberg  to  church,  for  fear  of  meeting  the  girl  who 
had  n't  the  courage  to  send  thee  away  to-day.  I  'm 
not  thinking  of  myself,  Simon, — and  it  will  yet  be 
my  ruin  that  I  care  so  much  for  thee, — it  's  only  for 
thy  sake  that  I  beg  of  thee:  Go  to  church!  " 

Oh,  thou  inexperienced  heart !  Thy  words  were 
like  oil  in  the  fire — for  him — for  thee.  He  heard 
only  the  sound  of  her  voice;  her  beauty  fanned  the 
fire  of  his  glance^-convulsively  he  reached  out  his 
arms  and  snatched  her  to  his  breast.  Like  a  piece 
of  wax  she  melted  under  the  warmth  of  his  kisses. 
Just  a  moment  before  she  had  noticed  a  gleam  of 


I02  The  God  Seeker 

light  on  the  window  from  without.  "  The  charcoal 
pit  is  burning!  "  she  had  barely  strength  to  stam- 
mer. 

In  the  pit,  which  was  built  of  resinous  wood,  a 
fire  had  broken  out.  At  first  only  a  dull  light  was 
visible,  like  a  blue  will-o'-the-wisp,  then  the  flames 
burst  bright  and  clear  through  the  black  roof ;  in  an 
ever-widening  circle  and  ever  deeper  they  pene- 
trated into  the  fiery  pit,  to  soar  again  to  the  skies. 
The  surrounding  trees  were  suffused  with  the  ruddy 
glow,  the  snowflakes  fell  like  trembling  rose-leaves 
amid  the  whirlwind  of  blue  smoke  and  flying  sparks. 

The  cock  crowed  a  third  time. 

"  Fire!" 

The  handsome  lad  from  Rocken-Paul's  rushed 
out  of  the  house.  Two  wood-cutters  were  already 
on  hand  smothering  the  flames  and  forcing  them 
back  to  their  rightful  place  within  the  pit. 

"  Holloa  there!  Who  's  that  hurrying  away  from 
the  hut  ? "  cried  one  of  the  wood-cutters. 

"  I  '11  be  hanged  if  it  is  n't  the  young  man  from 
the  Rockenberg.  The  girl's  father  is  surely  not  at 
home  and  the  rascal  has  had  it  nice  and  warm  in 
there  to-night!  " 

"  Then  it  's  no  wonder  that  the  pit  caught  fire." 

"  Let  's  catch  him!" 

"  Here  goes!  " 

And  they  ran  off  through  the  darkness  and  snow 
of  the  forest  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive.  Simon's 
conscience  did  not  trouble  him  in  the  least  for 
having  stopped  to  rest  a  while  with  the  charcoal- 
burner's  daughter,  but  if  no  one  heard  of  it,    all 


The  Crime  lo 


^ 


the  better.  Now,  to  his  great  good  fortune,  he 
stumbled  and  fell  over  a  stump,  and  the  two  wood- 
cutters caught  up  with  him.  With  a  bit  of  burning 
tinder  they  threw  a  light  upon  his  face. 

"It  's  Rocken-Paul's  man  !  "  they  laughed. 
You  're  all  right;  you  may  count  on  our  silence." 
They  left  him  standing.  He  shook  the  snow 
from  his  clothes,  reached  his  hand  into  his  pocket 
after  his  rosary,  saying  to  himself:  "  I  've  needed 
it  to-day  after  all."  Then  he  walked  away  in  the 
direction  of  the  Rockenberg;  the  grey  dawn  was 
just  appearing  over  the  drifts  of  snow. 


CHAPTER   X 

IN  what  a  different  manner  had  the  St.  Barbara 
mass  been  celebrated  in  Trawies ! 

During  the  night  from  the  valleys  and  mountains 
the  congregation  had  assembled,  the  most  of  them 
having  wearily  worked  their  way  through  the  snow 
that  blocked  the  paths  behind  them  the  moment 
they  had  passed.  The  powdery  flakes  danced  and 
whirled  amid  the  old  trees,  which  snapped  and  fell 
with  a  crash,  and  even  on  the  open  heath  the  peo- 
ple were  obliged  to  brace  themselves  with  all  their 
strength  against  the  storm,  throwing  their  cloaks 
over  their  faces  in  order  to  breathe. 

A  number  lost  their  way  in  the  blinding  snow  and 
wandered  about  cursing  or  praying,  and  on  the 
morning  of  St.  Barbara's  Day  many  thought  that 
their  end  had  come. 

At  last  the  people  were  assembled  before  the 
church,  stamping  their  feet,  or  cowering  against 
the  walls,  while  the  wind  howled  around  the  corners 
and  the  snow  fell  from  the  roof  and  whirled  in  ed- 
dies about  them. 

They  looked  like  walking  snow-men,  and  their 
frozen  boots  resounded  upon  the  few  spots  of 
ground  blown  bare  by  the  wind.     Each  one,  as  he 

104 


The  Crime  105 

arrived,  hastened  to  the  door  and  pressed  the  latch, 
but  in  vain — it  would  not  yield ;  the  building  was 
locked.  From  the  high,  narrow  windows  shone  the 
red  gleam  of  the  altar  lamp.  The  wind  whistled 
through  the  tower,  causing  a  reverberating  sound 
among  the  bells. 

The  hour  for  the  mass  had  arrived  and  the  peo- 
ple, becoming  impatient,  broke  open  the  sacristan's 
window  to  arouse  him. 

"Curse  you,  out  there!"  he  called;  "as  if  I 
had  n't  been  awake  since  the  first  crow  of  the  cock ! 
Can  I  help  it  if  the  priest  keeps  the  key  of  the 
church  ?  " 

"  Then  go  and  get  it,  you  old  fool!  Have  we 
come  down  through  wind  and  weather  to  the  St. 
Barbara  mass,  only  to  stand  here  and  freeze  before 
the  church  ?  Look  at  that  little  woman  there;  she 
has  almost  fainted,  she  's  so  cold ;  we  shall  break  in 
your  door  if  you  don't  open!  " 

The  sacristan  ran  across  to  the  parsonage. 

"  What  's  all  this  noise  about  ?  "  called  out  Herr 
Franciscus  from  his  room. 

"  The  people  want  to  get  into  the  church." 

"  What  do  they  want  in  the  church  at  this  time 
of  night  ?  " 

"  Sir,  it  is  six  o'clock." 

"  Leave  me  alone,  the  weather  is  too  devilish 
bad.     The  people  may  go  home." 

"  I  will  tell  them,  sir,  but  the  mass  is  paid  for," 

"  Give  them  back  their  money  then.  I  will  not 
risk  my  health,  so  recently  regained." 

"  But  listen,  they  are  screaming  out  there!     For 


io6  The  God  Seeker 

God's  sake,  priest,"  implored  the  sacristan,  "  they 
have  come  this  long  distance  and  think  so  much  of 
St.  Barbara's  Day  on  account  of  the  blessing  for  the 

« 

dying!  Jesus  Maria,  someone  is  throwing  stones ! 
I  beg  of  you,  priest,  get  up,  or  something  may 
happen." 

So  Herr  Franciscus  finally  rose  and,  unaccustomed 
to  exposure  in  such  stormy  weather,  walked  shiver- 
ing over  to  the  church  to  read  the  mass. 

Closely  wrapped  in  his  mantle,  he  strode  across 
the  square  to  the  sacristy.  The  people  barely 
greeted  him  ;  they  only  muttered,  and  someone — in 
the  darkness  he  could  not  be  recognised — said  in 
an  undertone:  "  The  Trawiesers  must  have  great 
faith  in  the  priestly  order,  to  come  this  long  dis- 
tance to  a  service  conducted  by  such  a  man." 

At  last  the  doors  were  opened  and  the  congrega- 
tion crowded  in.  There  were  even  a  few  miners 
from  Sankofen  present,  who  were  seldom  seen  in 
church.  Whenever  they  had  an  opportunity  to 
crawl  out  of  the  dark  earth,  they  usually  preferred 
remaining  in  the  warm  sunlight  where  life  smiles 
and  beckons  to  them,  to  shutting  themselves  within 
dark  walls.  But  for  St.  Barbara  they  had  a  great 
reverence.  In  her  hand  she  holds  the  cup  for  which 
each  soul  longs  in  his  dying  hour.  The  miners,  ex- 
posed as  they  were  to  danger,  were  often  obliged  to 
leave  the  world  without  the  comforting  draught. 
So  the  Feast  of  St.  Barbara  called  them  forth  from 
their  sepulchral  work-shops  to  assemble  here  to 
pray. 

The  sacristan  lighted  the  candles  about  the  altar 


The  Crime  107 

from  the  burning  lamp.  The  gilded  crucifix 
gleamed  before  the  tabernacle ;  but  the  few  lights 
were  insufficient  to  illumine  the  gloom  of  the 
church.  The  people  took  their  seats,  many  strug- 
gling to  limber  their  stiffened  fingers  before  they 
were  required  to  handle  the  rosary. 

At  last  the  little  bell  was  heard  and  the  priest,  in 
his  robes  of  office,  emerged  from  the  sacristy  and 
ascended  the  steps  of  the  altar,  while  the  choir  was 
chanting  the  hymn  of  praise  to  Him  whose  glory 
fills  heaven  and  earth. 

It  was  the  hour  just  before  dawn,  the  proper 
time,  according  to  Christian  usage,  for  the  rorate  to 
be  read.  This  service  symbolises  the  long  night, 
when,  in  past  ages,  God's  people  were  longing  for 
the  coming  of  the  Messiah. 

The  choir  began  the  Advent  hymn  : 

Send  down,  ye  heavens,  upon  the  just 

Thy  dew  !     Ye  clouds  send  down  thy  rain  ! 

Kneel  in  dust  and  pray,  O  mortal ! 

Woe  to  all  within  hell's  portal, 

For  the  Saviour  shall  appear  ! 

World's  Redeemer,  come  and  bring  us 

What  Thy  messenger  proclaimed, 

Come  and  bring  eternal  peace  ! 

The  priest,  stepping  to  the  left  of  the  altar,  read 
from  the  Gospel:  "  I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in 
the  wilderness.  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
make  his  paths  straight.  .  .  .  He  stands  in 
your  midst  and  ye  know  him  not.  .  .  .  It  is  he 
that  Cometh  after  me  whose  shoe   latchets  I  am 


io8  The  God  Seeker 

unworthy  to  unloose.  .  .  .  Make  his  paths 
straight  for  his  kingdom  is  at  hand." 

The  service  proceeded  solemnly  and  the  choir 
chanted  the  song  of  the  Prophet:  "  And  there  shall 
come  forth  a  rod  out  of  the  stem  of  Jesse,  and  a 
Branch  shall  grow  out  of  his  roots.  But  thou, 
Bethlehem  Ephratah,  though  thou  be  little  among 
the  thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee  shall  he 
come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to  be  ruler  in  Israel, 
whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  ever- 
lasting." 

The  worshippers  stood  reverently ;  but  there  was 
one  among  them  who  thought:  "  Unhappy  man, 
that  is  thine  own  funeral  sermon !  " 

The  choir  was  silent;  the  sacred  moment  drew 
near.  The  priest  knelt  upon  the  step,  folded  his 
hands,  and  bowed  his  head.  All  pride,  all  anger 
and  hardness  seemed  to  be  taken  from  him,  every- 
thing earthly  removed  in  this  hour,  as  he  pro- 
strated himself  in  prayer  and  humility  before  Him 
Whose  sacrifice  on  the  cross  he  was  now  to  celebrate. 
Slowly  he  rose  and,  in  spirit,  ascended  the  stony 
path  of  Calvary.  Yonder  in  the  gloom  towers  the 
cross;  the  blows  of  the  hammer  resound.  The 
priest  bent  his  knees  and  with  trembling  hands 
raised  the  Host. 

The  congregation  were  engaged  in  prayer.  In 
this  quiet  moment  all  were  thinking  of  their  loved 
ones  on  earth.  Outside  the  storm  was  raging  and 
the  windows  rattled. 

The  priest  raised  the  chalice.  The  hands  of  the 
true  priest  feel  the  warm  stream  flowing  from  the 


The  Crime  109 

sacred  wound  into  the  receptacle.  He  sees  the  pale 
face  of  the  Crucified  One  turned  heavenward :  "  It 
is  finished.  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my 
spirit!  " 

The  choir  continued:  "  And  I  heard  a  voice  from 
heaven,  as  the  voice  of  many  waters,  and  as  the 
voice  of  a  great  thunder;  and  I  heard  the  voice  of 
harpers,  harping  with  their  harps — they  sing  a  new 
song,  O  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sins 
of  the  world!  " 

The  priest  struck  his  breast  three  times,  broke 
the  sacred  wafer  and  laid  it  upon  his  tongue,  then 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  chalice  he 
drank  from  it.  That  finished  and  the  cup  cleansed, 
he  covered  the  utensils  in  the  form  of  a  bier.  And 
the  choir  sang:  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in 
the  Lord,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labours; 
and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

The  service  was  finished.  The  priest  turned  to- 
wards the  congregation  and  stretching  out  his 
hands  said:  "  The  Lord  be  with  you!"  Then 
pronouncing  the  benediction,  he  took  the  sacred 
utensils  and  left  the  altar.  The  choir  was  just  be- 
ginning the  hymn,  "  Hail  to  thee,  Mary,  Star  of 
the  Morning,"  when  suddenly  from  the  sacristy  a 
frightful  scream  was  heard,  and  the  priest  staggered 
back,  plunged,  and  fell  upon  the  steps  of  the  altar. 

All  sprang  to  their  feet;  the  music  stopped 
abruptly.  Some  slipped  quietly  out  of  the  church ; 
others  hastened  up  to  the  altar  with  a  cry  of  terror, 
which  re-echoed  throughout  the  building.  They 
forced   their  way  forward,  pushing   and   crowding 


lid  The  God  Seeker 

one  another — but  started  back  in  horror,  their  faces 
distorted  with  fear. 

"  What,  for  Christ's  sake,  has  happened  ?  " 

"Murdered!" 

* '  Make  room !     Make  room ! ' ' 

"  See,  the  blood  is  flowing  at  our  feet!    Away!  " 

Prostrate  before  the  altar,  where  the  candles  were 
still  burning,  he  lay ;  the  head,  crushed  and  man- 
gled, rested  upon  the  stone  floor ;  one  hand,  grasp- 
ing the  chalice,  was  stretched  out  upon  the  steps ; 
cap  and  stole  were  lying  near  the  door  to  the  sac- 
risty, which  was  enveloped  in  the  darkness  of  night. 

'•  Wko  f  "  cried  the  shrill  voices  from  throats 
parched  with  terror. 

"  Who  is  hiding  in  there  ?"  They  forced  their 
way  into  the  sacristy. 

The  blood  continued  to  flow  from  the  hideous 
wound.  No  one  dared  touch  the  dead  man;  the 
cries  ceased,  and  many,  dumb  with  fear,  staggered 
almost  senseless  out  of  the  building. 

The  bells  clanged  loudly  in  the  tower— proclaim- 
ing the  storm ;  and  the  wind  whistled  through  the 
trees — bringing  the  storm. 

Such  was  the  dawn  on  this  day  in  Trawies.  Peo- 
ple were  running  to  and  fro  in  ail  directions.  Soon, 
as  if  the  wintry  wind  were  carrying  the  news,  it  was 
known  in  all  the  houses :  The  priest  is  murdered  I 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  fire  guardian  sat  alone  in  his  room  ;  his  face 
was  livid,  his  head  bent  forward  —  he  was 
buried  in  thought. 

The  door  opened  and  Bart-from-Tarn,  Uli,  the 
charcoal-burner,  Firnerhans,  the  forest  keeper,  and 
others  entered. 

"  Fire  guardian,"  said  Bart-from-Tarn,  "  you 
know  why  we  are  here.  We  must  decide  as  to  our 
future  actions." 

The  fire  guardian  shook  his  head  wearily,  mur- 
muring: "  It  has  come  too  suddenly." 

"  Do  you  know  who  did  it  ? "  asked  the  forest 
keeper. 

"  Yes,  I  know." 

"  Where  is  he?" 

"  In  safety,"  said  the  fire  guardian,  "  but  only 
for  to-day;  not  for  to-morrow." 

"  Comrades,"  said  Bart-from-Tarn,  looking  at 
each  man  present,  "  we  are  responsible  for  what  has 
happened,  all  of  us.     We  will  stand  by  him." 

"  We  will." 

"  To-day  we  are  free  in  Trawies.  Now  we  must 
be  on  the  watch  to  avoid  suspicion." 

"  Men  of  Trawies,"  said  the  fire  guardian,  with  a 

III 


112  The  God  Seeker 

gesture  of  dismissal,  "  come  again  this  afternoon. 
But  go  now.  The  very  marrow  trembles  in  my 
bones;  it  has  happened  too  suddenly." 

The  tavern  was  not  large  enough  to  hold  all  the 
guests.  Those  who  had  news  came  to  relate  it,  and 
those  who  had  none  came  to  listen  and  to  shudder. 

To  think  of  it!  His  ];iead  split  with  a  woodsman's 
axe !  The  very  ones  who  had  formerly  cursed  him 
the  loudest  now  bewailed  him  the  most  and  they 
mourned  the  "  good,  kind  master."  Who  could 
have  done  it  ?  The  church  and  sacristy  had  been 
searched  but  no  one  found.  The  man  had  fled. 
Had  he  committed  the  murder  to  rob  ?  No,  it  must 
be  one  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the  priest  had  many 
enemies.  At  this  very  moment  the  murderer  may 
be  sitting  here  in  our  midst,  drinking  and  listening 
to  our  account  of  the  deed. 

"  He  should  be  hanged!  "  cried  some. 

"  He  should  be  stoned  and  beheaded !  "  screamed 
others. 

"  He  should  be  sent  up  to  the  remotest  part  of 
the  Trasank  to  escape  the  bailiffs,"  said  one  man. 
The  rest  started  in  astonishment.  There  were  some 
present  who  sat  in  silence,  saying  to  themselves 
with  a  sigh:  "  Were  these  first  days  only  over!  " 

But  what  then? 

In  the  meantime,  the  candles  on  the  altar  steps 
had  burned  low  and  were  extinguished. 

The  schoolmaster  lay  in  his  room  nearly  uncon- 
scious with  fright.  The  window  towards  the  church 
he   had   had  thickly  covered.     The   sacristan   was 


The  Crime  113 

wandering  about,  telling  in  the  different  houses  of 
the  dreadful  deed.  He  was  beside  himself  and,  in 
spite  of  the  deep  snow,  walked  as  though  on  wings 
and  everywhere  with  the  same  wail:  "He  was  such 
a  good  priest !  "  However  he  comforted  himself 
and  the  others  by  adding:  "  But  perhaps  now  we 
shall  get  a  still  better  one." 

Towards  dusk  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  people 
had  withdrawn  to  their  homes  to  await  with  fear 
and  anxiety  the  coming  night,  the  oldest  men  of 
Trawies  assembled  in  an  upper  room  at  the  fire 
guardian's  around  an  oaken  table  upon  which  two 
candles  burned. 

"  The  first  thing  to  be  done,"  began  Gallo  Weiss- 
bucher,  the  fire  guardian,  "  is  to  bury  him.  I  have 
had  him  laid  out  and  my  men  are  now  digging  the 
grave  in  the  churchyard.  You  will  all  agree  with  me 
that  the  priest  must  be  buried  with  every  Christian 
ceremony." 

"  That  is  also  my  opinion,"  replied  Bart-from- 
Tarn,  "  and  the  sooner  the  better,  before  the  news 
reaches  beyond  our  heathland.  The  authorities 
once  here,  we  are  no  longer  masters  in  our  own 
houses.  To  wait  and  see  if  he  revives  is  unneces- 
sary ;  so  I  propose  that  we  bury  him  early  to-mor- 
row morning." 

"  I  trust  this  haste  will  not  attract  attention," 
said  Firnerhans. 

"  Should  we  be  called  to  account  for  it,"  said 
Uli,  the  charcoal-burner,  **  we  will  say — what  is 
also  true — the  people  were  in  an  uproar  and  beside 
themselves  with  excitement;    everyone  wished  to 


114  The  God  Seeker 

see  the  murdered  man  and  it  became  impossible  to 
quiet  the  mob ;  the  village  of  Trawies  was  no  longer 
safe  and  burying  the  priest  was  the  only  means  of 
keeping  order." 

**  It  is  terrible,"  sighed  the  fire  guardian:  "  such 
a  deed,  at  the  altar,  before  everyone's  eyes!  He 
could  n't  have  managed  it  more  clumsily!  We 
shall  have  all  we  can  do,  my  dear  comrades,  to  keep 
ourselves  out  of  trouble!  " 

It  was  then  asked  if  the  people  of  Trawies  had 
any  suspicion  concerning  the  affair. 

Upon  our  Johannesberg,"  Firnerhans  informed 
them,  "  the  report  is  being  circulated  that  a  robber 
from  the  Ritscher  forest  committed  the  murder.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  suddenly  surprised  by  the  priest 
in  the  act  of  searching  the  drawers  of  the  sacristy, 
and  he  even  attempted  to  snatch  the  golden  chalice 
from  Herr  Franciscus,  who,  after  struggling  with 
the  thief,  was  finally  struck  by  him  on  the  head 
with  an  axe.  Although  the  murderer  escaped,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  his  booty  behind  him.  The 
following  morning  he  is  said  to  have  been  seen  in  a 
remote  valley  of  the  Trasank  with  the  bloody 
weapon  in  his  hand." 

Firnerhans  added:  "  I  have  told  everyone  to 
whom  I  have  spoken  about  the  murder — and  no  one 
talks  of  anything  else — that  this  story  was  probably 
true,  but  that  in  these  insecure  times  the  criminal 
would  be  hard  to  find." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  this  report,"  said  the  fire 
guardian. 

"  And,"  remarked  the  forest  keeper,  "  the  man 


The  Crime  ii^ 

might  have  climbed  into  the  sacristy  at  midnight ; 
the  storm  gave  him  every  opportunity,  and — I  will 
attend  to  that  myself — to-morrow,  when  the  investi- 
gation takes  place,  a  broken  window  bar  will  be 
found;  we  are  then  free  from  suspicion." 

Here  the  peasant  Tropper,  passing  his  rough  hand 
over  his  face,  made  a  movement  as  if  to  speak. 

"  Do  you  know  something,  Tropper  ?  "  asked  the 
fire  guardian. 

**  What  I  have  heard,"  he  answered,  "  and  what 
my  man  Nantel  says,  is  that  perhaps  some  honest 
man  in  the  Trawies  parish  has  sent  our  good  Herr 
Franciscus  to  heaven." 

"  That  is  also  the  talk  upon  the  Wildwiese,"  said 
one  of  the  men. 

"  At  old  Kofel's,  the  herb  doctor's,  where  I  went 
to-day  to  see  about  a  sick  cow,  and  where  all  kinds 
of  people  are  to  be  found,  I  heard  something  of  the 
kind,  too,"  reported  another. 

"   This  is  bad,"  they  murmured,  "  this  is  bad!  " 

"  But  I  'm  not  surprised  at  it,"  said  Bart-from- 
Tarn. 

"  There  are  no  traitors  among  us,  I  hope!  " 

"  Out  of  the  question,"  said  the  fire  guardian; 
"  as  far  as  keeping  silence  is  concerned,  I  would 
stake  my  soul  on  every  one  of  us." 

'•  But,"  added  Bart-from-Tarn,  "  the  thought 
which  occurred  to  us  might  have  occurred  to 
others  as  well;  such  an  idea  would  not  be  improb- 
able in  Trawies,  by  my  faith!  The  wood-cutters 
from  Rockenberg,  the  people  from  the  Tarn,  or  the 
miners  from  Sankofen,  might  have  sworn  to  do  the 


ii6  The  God  Seeker 

deed  as  well  as  we  peasants.  Many  will  think  of 
that,  I  am  sure,  but  no  names  must  be  mentioned, 
else  we  are  lost.  It  is  fortunate  that  the  heavy 
snow  has  blocked  the  roads  to  Trawies,  or  the  au- 
thorities from  Neubruck  or  Oberkloster  would  be 
here  to-morrow." 

"  God  forbid.  First  the  dead  man  must  be  put 
out  of  sight,  the  people's  mouths  be  stopped,  the 
government  of  Trawies  organised,  and  the  stand  we 
are  to  take  before  the  authorities  decided  upon ;  the 
carpenter  must  be  placed  in  safety,  then  they  may 
come, — we  shall  not  fear." 

"  The  government  of  Trawies  ? " 

"  From  our  own  villagers  and  house  owners  we 
shall  choose  our  council,  as  was  the  custom  in  olden 
times,"  said  the  fire  guardian,  laying  his  hand  upon 
an  old  grey  parchment.  "  This  council  shall  be 
master  and  law  in  our  homes  and  in  our  forest,  in 
the  church  and  in  the  school,  and  in  all  affairs  of  the 
parish.  We  shall  honestly  deliver  our  tithes  to  the 
authorities,  as  is  the  will  of  God ;  and  of  the  men 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  every  seventh,  chosen  by 
lot,  will  cheerfully  offer  himself  to  defend  the  father- 
land. From  the  priests  of  the  bishopric  will  be 
elected  twelve  chaplains,  as  of  old;  from  these 
twelve  one  will  be  chosen  by  the  archbishop  to  be 
our  spiritual  guide.  This  was  the  old  Trawies  law 
which  we  shall  now  revive." 

They  were  still  talking  when  a  great  noise  was 
heard  on  the  stairs.  A  moment  later  the  door 
opened.  A  messenger  from  the  Governor  and 
two  soldiers  entered.     A  few  of  the  men  rose  in  as- 


The  Crime  117 

tonishment ;  the  others  remained  sitting,  apparently 
indifferent,  but  looking  gravely  towards  the  new- 
comers. 

"  We  beg  your  pardon,"  said  the  messenger, 
turning  to  the  fire  guardian.  "  You  are,  I  believe, 
Gallo  Weissbucher  ?  We  come  in  haste  from  Neu- 
bruck." 

"Have  you  business  here?"  asked  the  fire 
guardian. 

The  messenger  looked  at  him  in  astonishment. 

"  The  murder!  "  he  answered. 
Oh,  to  see  about  the  murder  and  robbery,"  in- 
terrupted Bart-from-Tarn ;  "  yes,  it  is  well  that  you 
have  come.  All  Trawies  is  in  confusion.  We  are, 
as  you  see,  assembled  here  to  take  counsel  as  to 
what  must  be  done.  We  have  almost  lost  our  own 
heads.     Such  a  misfortune,  sir!  " 

"  For  the  present  there  is  nothing  to  be  done  but 
to  get  out  a  warrant,"  said  the  messenger,  in  a 
precise,  official  tone ;  and  feeling  the  importance  of 
his  mission,  he  added:  "  In  the  name  of  the  law 
you  are  required  to  assist  us  in  this  affair,  conscien- 
tiously and  according  to  your  knowledge.  Let  us 
go  at  once  to  the  scene  of  the  murder." 

They  rose,  and  the  fire  guardian  extinguished 
one  of  the  candles  and  with  the  other  lighted  the 
way  down  the  stairs.  Some  of  the  men  stole  away, 
and  one  of  them  remarked:  "  He  caught  us  in 
our  nest!  " 

"  Who  ?" 

"  The  devil." 

"  You  mean  that  messenger  ?     I  'm  not  afraid  of 


ii8  The  God  Seeker 

him.  If  the  authorities  in  Neubruck  don't  think  it 
worth  while  to  come  themselves,  but  send  a  subord- 
inate instead  to  get  out  the  warrant,  they  won't 
consider  the  affair  very  important  afterwards." 

"  Don't  you  flatter  yourself!  Think  of  the  drifts 
of  snow  now  blocking  the  roads!  If  you  were  the 
Governor  in  Neubruck  and  should  hear  that  the 
Trawies  priest  had  been  murdered  to-day,  I  '11 
wager  you  would  say :  *  In  such  devilish  weather  I 
would  n't  send  a  dog  to  Trawies.  I  '11  wait  until 
the  roads  are  passable,  and  in  the  meantime  I  '11 
send  my  messenger  on  ahead  to  make  inquiries,' 
You  may  count  upon  it,  he  will  come  himself." 

*'  We  shall  fare  badly  then." 

Bart-from-Tarn,  Firnerhans,  and  the  fire  guardian 
accompanied  the  officers  to  the  village  and  up  to 
the  church. 

Approaching  the  chancel,  they  could  see  by  the 
red  glow  of  the  little  altar  lamp  the  frozen  pool  of 
blood.  The  messenger  of  the  law  looked  about  him 
searchingly  and  finally  asked:  "  But  where  is  the 
dead  man  ?  " 

*  We  carried  him  over  to  the  parsonage  that  he 
might  be  properly  laid  out." 

"  Who  told  you  that  you  might  remove  the  body 
from  this  spot  ?  "  asked  the  messenger  sharply. 

"  Told  us!  "  replied  the  fire  guardian ;  "  I  should 
think  anyone  would  have  sense  enough  not  to  leave 

him  lying  here." 

"  Such  an  old  man,  Weissbucher,  and  you  do  not 
know  that  nothing  should  be  touched  on  the  spot 


The  Crime  119 

where  a  crime  is  committed  until  an  official  ex- 
amination has  taken  place!  " 

**  An  officer  would  know  that,  of  course,"  inter- 
rupted Firnerhans,  "  one  who  has  to  hover  around 
such  places,  like  a  raven  about  a  carcass.  We 
woodspeople  cannot  be  expected  to  understand  so 
exactly  what  is  the  custom  when  a  man  is  killed." 

"  You  hound,  I  forbid  you  to  speak  thus  to  me! 
I  am  here  in  the  name  of  the  law!  " 

"  Don't  get  excited,  comrades,"  said  Bart  ap- 
peasingly.  *'  And  you,  sir,  have  spent  many  a 
piece  of  money  in  the  tavern  here  which  should 
have  gone  into  your  sack,  so  you  won't  be  so  hard 
on  us  if,  in  our  ignorance,  we  have  made  a  mistake. 
You  should  have  seen  how  frightful  he  looked  lying 
there.  Herr  Gott !  I  shall  never  forget  the  horror 
of  it  as  long  as  I  live !  Everyone  who  saw  him  was 
nearly  crazed  and  they  all  demanded  that  he  should 
be  laid  out  like  a  Christian." 

**  The  church  should  have  been  locked  as  soon  as 
they  had  gone,"  instructed  the  messenger;  '*  within 
these  walls  the  praying  is  at  an  end  for  ever.  What 
are  those  people  doing  over  there  in  that  field  ?  " 

"  They  are  digging  the  grave,"  answered  the  fire 
guardian. 

"  For  whom  ?" 

"  Why,  for^ — "  he  pointed  with  his  thumb  to- 
wards the  parsonage. 

The  messenger  stopped  short,  saying:  "  My  dear 
people,  if  you  act  so  independently,  then  the  com- 
plaints of  your  priest  had  indeed  just  cause.  You 
have  no  right  to  bury  even  a  still-born  babe  on  your 


I20  The  God  Seeker 

own  responsibility— and  such  a  case  as  this!  I  will 
answer  for  it  and  you  shall  answer  for  it,  that  from 
this  moment  not  one  hair  is  touched !  There  is  still 
much  to  be  done,  I  tell  you.  It  will  be  days  and 
weeks  before  he  can  be  buried !  " 

Silently  they  mounted  the  stairs  to  the  priest's 
apartment.  Through  the  open  door  gleamed  the 
light  of  many  candles.  These  surrounded  a  bier 
upon  which  lay  the  body  covered  with  a  grey  cloth. 
Only  the  tips  of  the  boots  were  visible ;  at  the  head 
stood  a  high  crucifix  reaching  nearly  to  the  ceiling. 
Praying-benches  had  been  placed  beside  the  bier, 
but  there  were  no  worshippers;  the  whole  house 
was  empty  and  cold.  Not  one  of  the  men  of 
Trawies  would  advance  to  remove  the  cloth.  The 
messenger  was  obliged  to  do  it  himself,  but  he 
started  back  with  the  cry,  "  Jesus  Maria  !  "  Even 
the  soldiers  paled  at  the  sight. 

"  There  is  nothing  for  us  to  do  at  present,"  said 
the  messenger  after  a  pause.  "  Extinguish  the 
candles,  lock  the  room  and  the  house." 

The  storm  had  died  away ;  a  cold,  starry  sky  with 
a  rising  moon  looked  down  upon  the  white  world 
beneath.  The  messenger,  accompanied  by  the 
soldiers,  departed,  taking  the  path  by  the  Trach. 
The  search  for  the  murderer  had  begun. 


CHAPTER   XII 

IT  was  a  bright,  cold  morning  and  everything 
shone  and  sparkled.  Winter,  dressed  in  the 
colour  of  innocence,  spread  her  lily-white  mantle 
over  the  silent  village  and  over  the  mountains  which 
soared  into  the  blue  dome  of  heaven.  The  houses 
of  Trawies,  usually  gleaming  against  their  back- 
ground of  green,  now  resembled  grey  blocks  of 
stone  in  the  pure  snow. 

But  the  narrator  can  take  no  pleasure  in  all  this 
beauty,  for  it  is  hidden  in  the  shadow  of  that  un- 
holy night.  In  spirit  he  sees  Fate,  who  out  of  that 
night  is  with  busy  fingers  spinning  dark  and  slender 
threads.  Through  the  sea  of  light  these  threads 
reach  from  house  to  house,  from  hut  to  hut,  yes, 
from  tree  to  tree  and  from  stone  to  stone,  entang- 
ling and  interweaving  themselves  into  a  black  veil, 
concealing  the  future  and  covering  the  sun  that 
even  in  Trawies  would  so  gladly  smile  upon  each 
young  heart. 

Yet,  in  these  days  of  unrest  and  confusion,  there 
is  no  time  for  reflection.  See, the  crowd  streaming 
from  the  tavern.  Little  Baumhackel  was  in  trouble. 
Little  Baumhackel,  with  his  heavy  beard  and  cone- 
shaped  head,  the  embodiment  of  mischief  and  evil; 

121 


122  The  God  Seeker 

the  Faun  of  Trawies,  with  his  short  legs  and  long 
fingers;  the  active  dwarf,  with  his  sheep's  eyes  and 
rabbit's  foot,  upon  whose  sallow  forehead  were 
written  as  many  sins  as  could  find  room  thereon, 
and  who  was  supremely  indifferent  to  it  all — Little 
Baumhackel  was  now  in  trouble. 

The  preceding  night  he  had  sat  in  the  tavern 
until  very  late,  speculating  with  the  others  about 
the  murder  in  the  church.  He  had  finally  spent  the 
night  at  the  inn,  sleeping  near  the  stove  under  a 
bench,  while  another  man,  also  averse  to  the  idea 
of  returning  home,  slept  upon  it.  In  the  morning, 
as  the  room  filled  again,  the  speculating  began 
anew.  Little  Baumhackel's  voice  being  heard  above 
the  rest.  "  If  I  could  only  catch  the  murderer,  I 
would  hang  him,  yes,  I  would  hang  him  by  his  feet 
to  the  churchyard  wall ;  I  would  make  leather  shoe- 
strings out  of  his  skin  for  the  new  priest!  The 
scoundrel  deserves  nothing  better.  To  go  and  split 
open  a  man's  head!  'T  was  a  horrible  thing  to  do! 
And  then  too  in  that  holy  place,  spoiling  our  church 
for  us  for  ever !     Curse  the  devil !  " 

At  this  outbreak,  Stoss-Nickel  limped  over  to 
Baumhackel's  table.  Stoss-Nickel,  a  lumberman, 
employed  in  sliding  wood  in  the  Tarn,  had  for  some- 
time been  on  an  unfriendly  footing  with  Baum- 
hackel, not  because  one  was  so  absurdly  small  and 
the  other  so  gigantic,  but  rather  because  Little 
Baumhackel  had  once  applied  for  the  work  of  wood- 
sliding  in  the  Tarn.  He  did  not  secure  it,  but  had 
he  done  so,  Stoss-Nickel  and  his  family  would  have 
starved. 


The  Crime  123 

This  huge,  long-limbed  woodsman — one  foot  had 
been  crushed  by  a  rolling  tree-trunk — now  limped 
up  to  Little  Baumhackel,  planted  his  elbows  upon 
a  corner  of  the  table,  and  said  in  a  voice  so  low  that 
he  seemed  to  be  saying  something  agreeable,  yet 
loud  enough  for  all  to  hear:  "  Just  tell  me,  Baum- 
hackel, where  were  you  early  yesterday  morning  ? " 

"  I  ?  Early  yesterday  morning  ?  "  replied  Baum- 
hackel, squinting  one  eye.  "  What  's  that  to  you  ? 
An  honest  man  would  have  been  in  church." 

"  You  're  right,"  answered  Stoss-Nickel,  "  if  it 
only  said  in  the  Gospels  that  you  were  an  honest 
man!  " 

The  people  laughed ;  Little  Baumhackel,  how- 
ever, remained  grave  and,  craning  his  neck  towards 
the  other,  replied:  "  How  do  you  know,  then,  that 
it  does  n't  say  so  in  the  Gospels  ?  You  never 
looked  into  them  in  your  life." 

"  One  needs  only  to  look  at  you,  and  that  I  did 
yesterday  at  sunrise  when  we  met  over  by  the 
Trach  bridge.  And  I  must  say  if  you  had  been 
counting  your  beads  until  your  fingers  were  bloody, 
then  you  must  be  a  devilish  pious  Christian." 

The  men,  sitting  and  standing  about,  who  had 
laughed  a  moment  before,  now  suddenly  became 
silent. 

Baumhackel's  eyes  stood  out  of  his  head;  he 
made  a  gesture  that  all  might  see  both  his  hands 
and  answered,  **  You  need  n't  make  fun  of  the 
rosary,  you  villain !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  of  course  you  have  washed  your  claws 
to-day,"  said  Stoss-Nickel,  "  but  you  were  careful 


124  The  God  Seeker 

not  to  put  on  the  leathern  hose,  and  I  '11  be  damned 
if  the  red  spots  which  I  saw  so  plainly  yesterdajf 
morning  are  not  still  to  be  found  on  them." 

That  was  enough.  The  people  crowded  around 
Little  Baumhackel,  who  grew  deathly  pale  even  to 
his  lips — and  that  was  more  than  enough. 

In  a  few  moments  it  was  reported  all  over  the 
village — "  Little  Baumhackel  is  the  murderer!  " 

It  was  scarcely  credible,  and  the  more  thoughtful 
men,  among  them  the  fire  guardian,  quieted  the 
people,  endeavouring  to  convince  them  that  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  the  little  fellow  to 
have  done  such  a  thing.     But  the  old  women  cried : 

O  Du  lieber  Gott  !  He  looks  just  like  the  man  to 
doit.  We  have  n't  trusted  him  for  a  longtime; 
he  's  a  bad  one,  he  is!  Strange  that  we  did  n't 
think  of  him  at  once!  No  question  at  all  about  it, 
he  's  the  man  who  did  it !  And  how  he  scolded 
about  the  murder  like  a  picked  sparrow,  and  all  the 
time  he  was  the  rascal  himself!  " 

As  the  Faun  of  Trawies  became  aware  that  some- 
thing very  uncomfortable  was  threatening  his  own 
neck,  he  emptied  his  mug  hastily,  pushed  it  back  on 
the  table  with  a  rattling  sound,  and,  springing  to  his 
feet  directly  in  front  of  Stoss-Nickel,  cried : 

"  You  suspect  me,  do  you,  you  good-for-nothing! 
Where  did  you  see  blood  on  me  ?  Perhaps  the 
thrashings  you  've  given  your  hungry  wives  were 
still  in  your  eye!  Because  you  whipped  the  first 
wife  to  death,  the  devil  has  burdened  you  with  two 
at  once  now.  It  's  your  own  heathenish  life,  you 
blackguard,  that  so  set  our  priest  against  the  people 


The  Crime  125 

o{  Trav^rtes,  ^nd  it  was  your  talk,  I  'd  Have  yoii 
know,  on  Midsummer  Day,  down  by  the  spring — 
your  talk,  when  you  said,  '  That  man  up  there,'  and 
you  pointed  towards  the  stone  house,  so  that  every- 
one could  easily  see  whom  you  meant,  *  That  man 
up  there,  someone  should  quietly  put  out  of  the 
way  and  end  this  foolishness.'  Did  n't  you  say 
that,  Stoss-Nickel  ?  Deny  it  if  you  can !  And  now 
you  want  to  put  it  off  upon  someone  else!  Perhaps 
you  did  it  yourself! — Ha,  come  on,  come  on!  I 
just  want  to  show  you  that  I  've  as  much  reason  to 
accuse  you  as  you  me.  But  I  won't  do  that,  be- 
cause I  too  met  you  way  over  on  the  Trach  bridge. 
I  'm  your  sole  witness  that  you  yourself  were  com- 
ing at  that  time  from  the  Tarn !  Think  of  that, 
Nickel,  and  keep  quiet!  " 

Little  Baumhackel,  who  had  screamed  his  face 
red  and  his  throat  hoarse,  was  ordered  to  be  silent. 
The  soldiers  had  arrived  and  were  binding  his  arms 
and  placing  handcuffs  upon  his  hands. 

Then  the  procession  started.  Little  Baumhackel 
swearing  and  imploring  heaven  to  come  to  his  aid 
and  prove  his  innocence.  The  bailiffs,  however, 
seemed  to  have  no  ears,  but  their  arms  and  elbows 
were  all  the  stronger.  At  last  the  little  man  was 
secured  in  a  cellar  under  the  parsonage  until  after- 
noon, when  the  officers  returned  from  their  investi- 
gation at  Baumhackel's  hut  with  the  report  that, 
sure  enough,  on  the  leathern  hose  blood  stains  had 
been  found. 

"  Now  you  're  done  for,"  said  Sandhok,  with  a 
wink  at  the  little  man,  as  he  was  being  dragged  to 


126  The  God  Seeker 

the  tavern  for  further  examination.  The  room  was 
so  crowded  that  people  were  standing  on  benches 
and  tables. 

"  We  can  hardly  think  such  a  thing  of  the  little 
fellow. 

"  The  big  man  has  got  away." 

"  The  little  one  will  get  away  too.  So  much  the 
better." 

Thus  the  people  whispered.  There  were  some 
present  who  might  have  spoken,  but  their  lips  were 
sealed.  The  forest  keeper  felt  this  the  most  keenly. 
He  decided  to  remain  silent  for  a  while,  but  he 
was  resolved,  before  he  would  see  his  own  brother 
hanged ! 

In  the  meantime  an  ofificer  of  the  law  had  arrived 
from  Neubruck,  and  he  spoke  kindly  to  the  despair- 
ing Baumhackel,  telling  him  to  answer  the  questions 
briefly  but  honestly  and  to  confess  everything 
frankly ;  that  would  be  the  best  and  quickest 
way 

"To  the  gallows!"  shouted  a  voice  from  the 
chimney  corner. 

The  accused  was  told  not  to  think  of  his  earthly 
destiny — each  human  life  was  in  God's  hands — but 
of  that  world  where  alone  the  truly  penitent  could 
hope  for  mercy  and  pity. 

Little  Baumhackel  buried  his  face  in  his  arm  and 
wept. 

First  of  all  he  was  asked  to  say  where  he  had  hid- 
den the  axe. 

He  had  never  had  an  axe,  sobbed  the  little  man, 
only  a  knife. 


The  Crime  127 

Where  was  the  knife  ? 

That  was  still  up  in  Freiwild's  shed.  But  as  truly 
as  the  Holy  Trinity  was  in  heaven,  so  truly  was  he 
innocent  of  the  murder.  If  he  really  must  confess 
where  the  blood  came  from,  he  would  say  that  he 
had  stolen  a  fat  goat  from  Freiwild's  stall  and  killed 
it  in  the  shed. 

"  What  's  he  saying  about  me  ?  "  asked  a  red- 
bearded  man,  rising  from  a  neighbouring  table.  It 
was  Freiwild,  the  peasant  from  the  mountain. 

"  He  says  the  blood  comes  from  a  goat  which  he 
took  from  Freiwild's  stall.     Is  that  true  ?  " 

"  From  my  stall — a  goat  ?  "  cried  the  red-bearded 
man;  "  that  's  his  game! — My  dear  sirs,  I  can  say 
nothing  to-day,  but  no  goat  has  been  stolen  from 
my  stalls." 

"  You  liar!  "  exclaimed  Little  Baumhackel;  "  or 
are  you  so  rich  that  you  don't  notice  when  your 
sheep  are  stolen  ?  That  's  well  for  you  and  for  me 
too." 

"  I  must  look  then  and  see,"  replied  Freiwild 
calmly;  "  to-day  I  can  say  nothing." 

The  hearing  was  closed.  Baumhackel  was  led 
back  to  his  vault,  which  was  somewhat  too  dark  and 
cold  for  a  simple  sheep  thief.  Freiwild,  who  was 
so  well  off  that  he  did  not  even  count  his  sheep, 
won  from  many  people  great  respect  that  day. 
Others  thought,  however,  that  the  whole  story  was 
simply  a  means  of  escape  for  Baumhackel,  who  pre- 
ferred jail  to  the  gallows. 

As  Freiwild  was  walking  home,  Sandhok  hastened 
after  him,  saying:  "  See  here,  you  might  help  the 


'28  The  God  Seeker 

poor  devil  out  of  his  scrape.  Look  at  it  as  we 
may,— and  you  think  the  same  yourself,— that  was 
a  good  piece  of  work  that  was  done  yesterday  morn- 
ing in  the  church.  Help  him  out.  Say  that  the 
goat  was  stolen." 

"  You  are  a  pack  of  villains!  "  growled  Freiwild, 
hastening  away. 

At  twilight  when  all  was  quiet  and  deserted  about 
the  church  and  the  parsonage— for  no  one  dared  be 
found  there;  even  the  sacristan  had  fled— and  the 
bells  were  silent  and  the  wooden  clock  on  the  tower 
had  stopped,  the  red-bearded  Freiwild  was  crouch- 
ing before  the  barred  window,  whispering  down 
into  the  cellar:  "Young  Baumhackel !  Are  you 
still  awake  ?  You  've  a  fine  dwelling  now,  ha  ? 
I  'm  glad  of  it.  But  I  would  n't  have  believed  that 
my  dear  neighbour  would  steal  my  fattest  sheep 
every  year." 

"Oh,   Freiwild!"    sighed  the  little   man  in  the 
cellar. 

"  But  as  an  honest  neighbour  I  will  save  your 
honour." 

"  Do  it  quickly— to-day,  that  I  may  get  out  of 
this  hole." 

"  Stealing  sheep  is  despicable  business,  you  must 
know,  Baumhackel.  Now,  just  think,  a  sheep  thief! 
You  would  like  to  be  free,  but  you  would  be  a  ras- 
cal in  everybody's  eyes.  No,  neighbour,  I  could  n't 
stand  by  and  see  it.  A  bold,  bloody  murder,  how- 
ever, is  something  quite  different.  And  such  a  one 
as  yesterday's !  That  murderer  will  be  respected! 
His  fame  will  go  abroad  overall  the  world  and  after 


The  Crime  129 

a  hundred  years  fathers  will  show  their  sons  the 
maple-tree :  *  There  he  was  hanged !  '  No,  no, 
Baumhackel,  you  are  no  sheep  thief.  None  of  my 
fat  goats  are  missing." 

"  For  Holy  Mary's  sake,  Freiwild,  don't  torture 
me  so!  "  implored  the  man  in  the  cellar. 

"  Then  you  must  promise,"  said  the  red-bearded 
man,  "  to  do  whatever  I  tell  you." 

"  Whatever  you  will,  neighbour,  only  tell  the 
truth  about  the  goat.  In  the  shed,  under  the  snow, 
you  '11  find  the  entrails  and  the  knife." 

"  That  's  nothing,  my  dear  Baumhackel,  I  could 
dispose  of  those  to-day." 

"  But  you  would  n't  be  a  devil,  Freiwild  ?  " 

"  As  I  say,  if  you  will  do  as  I  tell  you.  But  I 
must  have  your  oath  first.  Another  man  and  my- 
self are  planning  something,  and  we  need  a  third 
party  to  help  us.     Can  we  count  upon  you  ?  " 

The  little  man  swore  a  powerful  oath. 

"  Good!  "  said  Freiwild;  '*  now  we  understand 
one  another.     Good-night,  sheep  thief!  " 

The  next  day  Freiwild  let  it  be  known  that  on 
that  stormy  night  his  fattest  goat  had  really  been 
stolen  from  his  barn,  and  that  a  short  distance 
from  the  house  he  had  found  the  entrails  in  the 
shed. 

"  But,"  he  added,  "  I  pardon  the  poor  little  fel- 
low and  I  make  him  a  present  of  the  goat.  As  far 
as  I  am  concerned  he  has  nothing  to  be  punished 
for.  Another  time  if  he  is  hungry  he  need  only 
apply  to  me." 

How  the  people  wondered  at  this!     Freiwild  was 


130  The  God  Seeker 

not  only  rich,  he  was  also  generous!     He  will  yet 
be  judge  in  Trawies. 

The  examination  of  Baumhackel  was  thus  speedily 
ended;  the  little  Faun  was  free  again. 

Rocken-Paul's  household  were  sitting  cosily  to- 
gether around  the  table,  cracking  nuts  and  discuss- 
ing the  news  from  the  village. 

**  The  priest  is  still  lying  in  the  parsonage,  with- 
out candles,  without  prayers.  Officers  come  every 
day  from  Neubruck  and  Oberkloster,  look  at  the 
dead  man,  examine  the  blood  on  the  altar,  and  do 
all  manner  of  strange  things,  then  lock  parsonage 
and  church  securely.  This  year  there  will  be  no 
Christmas  mass  in  Trawies." 

*'  Soldiers  are  searching  through  the  ravines  and 
on  all  the  mountains,  but  have  discovered  nothing 
yet." 

"  Little  Baumhackel  is  probably  safe  at  home 
again.     One  must  look  out  for  him  now." 

"Is  it  then  true  that  they  attempted  to  drive 
away  the  fire  guardian  yesterday  ?  " 

"  Yes,  they  tried  to  prove  that  as  chief  of  the 
parish  he  was  responsible  for  the  murder.  It  was 
no  fault  of  his." 

Such  was  the  conversation  about  the  table.  All 
at  once  someone  exclaimed:  "  By  Jupiter,  who  's 
that  out  there  ?  " 

A  stamping  of  snowy  boots  was  heard  and  soon 
the  strangers  entered,  an  officer  and  a  soldier;  two 
more  waited  outside,  standing  before  the  door. 

Rocken-Paul  looked  up  astonished.      Since   his 


The  Crime  i^i 

house  was  built  no  such  visitors  had  ever  entered 
it. 

"This  is  Rocken-Paul's  house?"  asked  the 
officer. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  peasant,  in  a  questioning 
voice. 

"  We  are  looking  for  one  Simon  Haneser." 

The  young  man  rose  from  his  chair,  saying:  *'  I 

am  Simon  Haneser,    What  do  you  want  with  me  ?  " 

In  the  name  of  the  law:  You  must  go  with  us." 

"  Who,  I  ?  "  laughed  Simon;  "  I  should  like  to 
know  why," 

"  You  will  soon  find  out.     Get  ready!  " 

The  young  man  straightened  himself — he  was  a 
magnificent  specimen,  strong  as  a  pine-tree — and 
said:  "  I  will  not  be  dragged  away  like  a  calf  from 
the  cow.  First  tell  me  what  you  want  of  me,  then 
I  will  go  with  you  of  my  own  accord." 

"  Come  now,"  replied  the  officer,  "  I  thought 
you  would  find  it  out  quite  soon  enough  and  that  the 
time — when  you  once  did  find  it  out — would  seem 
very  long,  or,  perhaps,  too  short.  I  have  my  orders 
not  to  speak,  and  then  probably  you  know  more 
about  this  affair  than  all  the  rest  of  us  together." 

Rocken-Paul  approached  the  officer,  indicating  to 
him  that  he  also  had  a  right  here;  he  was  master  in 
this  house  and  responsible  for  his  household,  and  he 
insisted  upon  knowing  why  they  were  taking  the 
young  man  away. 

"  If  one  of  us  two  is  to  ask  a  question,  it  should 
be  I,"  replied  the  officer,  "  and  so,  peasant,  tell 
me,  please,  on  your  word  of  honour,  where   was 


1^2  The  God  Seeker 

your  man,  Simon  Haneser,  on  the  fourth  of  this 
month  between  six  and  seven  in  the  morning." 

"  Oh,  it  's  the  murder  again,  is  it  ?  If  you  try  to 
arrest  everyone  who  was  present  at  mass  that  morn- 
ing, you  '11  have  a  hard  job  of  it  and  the  criminal 
will  have  plenty  of  time  to  get  away.  Of  course 
my  Simon  was  also  in  church  on  St.  Barbara's  Day." 

"  You  don't  know,  peasant,  that  he  was  not  seen 
in  the  church  ?  That  Rocken-Paul's  seat  was 
empty  ?  And  was  not  your  man  heard  to  say  that 
he  would  not  go  to  church  in  Trawies  unless  he 
carried  a  rosary  in  one  hand  and  a  cudgel  in  the 
other  ?  " 

The  peasant  looked  at  his  man,  who  was  blushing 
deeply,  which  did  not  please  Rocken-Paul.  "  You 
don't  tell  me,  Simon,  that  you  were  untruthful 
that  morning  and  crawled  back  to  bed  again  after 
you  had  eaten  your  porridge  ?  It  was  noticed  after- 
wards that  you  told  us  nothing  of  what  had  hap- 
pened ;  you  said  something  about  leaving  the 
church  before  the  end  of  the  service  as  an  excuse 
for  coming  home  so  early." 

"  It  looks  suspicious,"  remarked  the  officer, 

"Nonsense!"  cried  the  peasant,  "he  never 
stirred  from  his  bed." 

"  As  you  bade  me,"  said  the  young  man,  "  I  left 
the  house  and  went  on  my  way." 

"  So  you  were  in  church?" 

Simon  took  out  his  red  cotton  handkerchief, 
mopped  his  forehead,  and  answered:  "  In  church — 
you  won't  take  it  amiss,  I  hope,  but  the  snowstorm 
— I  did  n't  go  to  Trawies  at  all." 


The  Crime  133 

"  Get  along  with  you!"  cried  the  officer  impa- 
tiently, "  these  are  only  excuses.  The  law  requires 
evidence.     Soldiers,  put  on  the  handcuffs!  " 

Rocken-Paul,  his  wife  and  maids  all  gave  an  ex- 
clamation of  horror. 

"  You  won't  be  so  childish  as  to  believe  these 
men,  I  hope,"  said  Simon,  trying  to  console  them. 
"  I  '11  go  with  them.  'T  would  be  easy  enough  to 
get  evidence,  but  I  must  see  first  whether  I  want  to 
get  it.     Hands  off !     I  won't  be  bound!  " 

They  did  not  bind  him,  but  led  him  away,  the 
household  sending  their  mournful  wails  after  him. 

Simon  pressed  his  hat  low  over  his  forehead  and 
walked  more  rapidly  than  was  agreeable  to  his  com- 
panions. His  thoughts  were  quick  and  decided, 
like  his  gait. 

"  It  is  true,"  he  reflected,  "  whenever  a  man 
steps  aside  from  the  beaten  path,  the  devil  is  wait- 
ing for  him.  Now,  if  I  should  confess  that  at  that 
hour  I  was  in  Schummel-Zens's  hut,  her  reputation, 
her  good  name  would  be  gone  for  ever.  No  honest 
man  would  dare  woo  her.  The  people  would  point 
at  her  wherever  she  went,  saying:  '  That  's  the  girl 
who  gave  evidence  to  help  Rocken-Paul's  man  out 
of  his  scrape!  '  And  her  father,  the  stern  charcoal- 
burner,  would  be  quite  capable  of  sending  her  away. 
And  shall  I  be  the  cause  of  destroying  the  happi- 
ness of  her  who  is  the  dearest  thing  I  have  in  the 
world  ?     No,  I  will  not  do  it!  " 

He  almost  said  the  last  words  aloud.  He  was  re- 
solved not  to  betray  Han,  regardless  of  the  conse- 
quences.    His  innocence  of  the  bloody  crime  must 


134  The  God  Seeker 

be  proved  by  some  other  means.  Every  tree,  every 
fence-post  would  bear  witness  against  the  false  ap- 
pearances and  bring  the  truth  to  light.  Thus 
thought  the  lad,  but  he  begged  the  trees  and  fence- 
posts  to  proclaim  with  a  loud  voice  the  one  truth,  to 
keep  silence,  however,  in  regard  to  the  other. 

"  And  even  if  they  should  lock  me  up  for  weeks 
in  the  parsonage  cellar  or  torture  me  with  thumb- 
screws, I  will  not  betray  my  Han." 

The  officer  ordered  him  to  walk  more  slowly. 
Simon  replied  that  it  was  his  usual  gait  and  if  they 
could  not  keep  up  with  him  they  might  stay  behind. 
However,  they  did  keep  up  with  him,  but  one  of 
the  men  snarled  angrily:  "  Hurry,  hurry,  or  the 
gallows  will  catch  you  !  " 

As  they  were  walking  along  the  Rockenbach  and 
passing  the  charcoal-pit,  Simon  peered  sideways 
from  under  his  hat-brim  towards  the  hut.  The  pit 
was  smoking  quietly ;  the  little  windows  shone 
brightly,  but  he  saw  nothing  further.  They  had 
gone  only  a  few  steps  past  the  hut,  however,  when 
he  heard  someone  calling  behind  him,  "  Simon!  " 

The  men  turned;  there  stood  the  girl,  the  beauti- 
ful Han.  She  showed  no  excitement,  but  addressed 
the  officer  calmly,  begging  him  to  grant  her  a  few 
words  with  Rocken-Paul's  man.  The  officer  was  all 
the  more  willing,  in  that  he  felt  the  most  lively 
curiosity  to  hear  what  such  a  charming  lass  would 
have  to  say  to  this  bold  youth, 

Han  turned  to  the  young  man  and  said:  *'  I 
think  I  'm  not  wrong  in  surmising  that  thou  art 
about  to  do  a  very  stupid  thing.    I  know  the  whole 


The  Crime  135 

story — thou  needst  not  say  a  word  ;  since  yesterday 
the  people  are  talking  of  nothing  else  but  that  thou 
art  the  murderer  of  the  priest.  I  have  kept  still  and 
let  it  go  on  until  thou  shouldst  come  to  me.  But 
now  thou  art  going  straight  by,  fearing,  probably, 
to  injure  me,  and  thou  mightest  have  brought  ruin 
upon  thyself  by  thy  foolishness.  For  someone  in 
Trawies  has  got  to  suffer — that  's  as  certain  as  that 
the  fire  is  burning  in  the  pit  here — and  at  last  they 
will  cease  to  care  whether  he  is  guilty  or  innocent. 
Thou  art  innocent ;  there  's  no  time  for  me  to  in- 
form against  thee,  nor  is  there  time  to  praise  thee 
for  being  unwilling  to  bring  disgrace  upon  a  poor 
girl ;  so  I  will  declare  before  God  and  the  people 
that  on  the  morning  of  St.  Barbara's  Day,  from  the 
first  crow  of  the  cock  to  the  last,  thou  wast  here 
with  me  in  my  hut." 

"  Du  lieber  Gott,''  said  the  officer  with  a  twinkle 
in  his  eye,  "  what  remarkable  stories  we  are  hearing 
in  this  green  forest!  It  's  a  downright  pity,  though, 
that  such  a  witness  cannot  serve.  Women  are  al- 
ways ready  to  gossip  all  the  men  out  of  hell,  and 
when  it  is  a  question  of  the  sin,  the  women  would 
all  confess  it,  if  they  could  only  have  their  men  back 
again." 

Simon  had  seized  Han  by  both  hands,  and  he  now 
cried:  "  Yes,  sweetheart,  my  girl,  if  thou  art  so 
much  better  than  even  I  thought  thee,  and  thou 
carest  more  for  a  miserable  fellow  like  me  than  for 
thyself,  then  I  know  what  to  do.  Thou  hast  offered 
thyself  and  the  best  that  thou  hast  in  the  world  as 
evidence,  but  that  is  not  enough   for  these  wise 


13^  The  God  Seeker 

gentlemen  of  the  law,  so,  with  God's  help,  I  will  find 
a  few  other  witnesses  who  will  speak  for  me.  I  go  to 
Trawies  now  quite  happy,  and  if  thou  wouldst  do 
me  a  favour,  my  dearest  girl,  then  send  up  to  the  log 
house  and  say  to  the  wood-cutters,  Jok  and  Sepp, 
that  I  ask  them  to  come  at  once  to  Trawies ;  then 
we  '11  all  come  home  together  and  I  11  call  here  on 
my  way." 

"  Of  course  I  *11  do  it,"  answered  Han,  "  but 
please  don't  think  thou  art  indebted  to  me  for  any- 
thing."    And  she  returned  to  the  hut. 

He  looked  after  her  and  shouted  for  joy.  In  this 
shout  was  embodied  the  hymn  of  praise  to  his  glori- 
ous maiden ;  in  this  shout  resounded  the  happiness 
which  in  such  an  unexpected  manner  had  filled  his 
heart;  and  he  followed  the  bailiffs,  whistling  a 
merry  tune. 

When  he  reached  the  parsonage  for  his  examina- 
tion, the  two  wood-cutters  were  already  there;  they 
swore  that  they  had  seen  Rocken-Paul's  man, 
Simon  Haneser,  on  the  morning  of  St.  Barbara's 
Day,  at  the  given  hour,  near  the  little  hut  of 
Schummel-Zens.  This  little  hut  was  one  hour's 
distance  from  the  church  at  Trawies.  Simon  was 
allowed  to  return  home. 

Although  those  accused  of  the  murder  were  al- 
ways set  free  again — not  for  lack  of  evidence,  but 
on  the  ground  of  strong  counter-evidence — the  sus- 
picion that  the  guilty  person  would  yet  be  found 
among  the  inhabitants  increased  in  strength.  And 
at  last  it  was  even  rumoured  that  a  conspiracy  had 
been  formed  in  the  parish.     The  few  rooms  at  the 


The  Crime  137 

tavern  were  occupied  by  the  officers;  the  apart- 
ments in  the  parsonage  were  reserved  for  the  ex- 
aminations, often  of  the  most  painful  kind;  and 
everywhere  in  this  isolated  forest  region  heavily 
armed  soldiers  were  stationed. 

The  body  of  the  murdered  man  still  lay  upon  the 
bier,  the  authorities  from  Neubruck  having  sworn 
to  defer  the  burial  until  the  criminal  was  secured. 

After  these  numerous  but  fruitless  investigations, 
the  suspicion  was  now  fastened  upon  a  new  person, 
against  whom,  however,  no  other  ground  for  it  ex- 
isted than  that  the  man  was  a  religious  enthusiast. 
He  was  of  a  reserved  nature,  and  although  his  cir- 
cumstances were  well  known  and  up  to  the  present 
nothing  unusual  had  been  noticed  either  in  his  life 
or  in  his  home,  yet  there  was  something  dark  and 
mysterious  about  him.  He  had  the  habit  of  often 
shutting  himself  by  day  in  his  workshop,  and  of  wan- 
dering about  through  the  forest  like  a  somnambu- 
list at  night.  He  had  paid  little  heed  to  the  civil 
mandates  nailed  on  the  church  door,  but  with  the 
Holy  Scriptures  and  sacred  laws  of  his  forefathers 
he  was  familiar,  and  these  were  interwoven  with  his 
thoughts  and  dreams.  No  one  in  Trawies  had 
probed  the  soul  of  this  man,  but  everyone  knew  of 
him  and  the  officers  were  on  the  watch. 

Terror  and  excitement  reigned  m  the  house  of 
Wahnfred,  the  carpenter.  Since  the  eve  of  St. 
Barbara  Wahnfred  had  disappeared.  On  the  first 
day  his  absence  caused  no  remark,  for  his  wife  knew 
that  he  had  gone  to  church,  and  when  the  news  of 


13^  The  God  Seeker 

the  horrible  crime  reached  her  it  was  still  more 
easily  explained,  for  everyone  was  remaining  in  the 
village  to  gather  particulars  at  the  tavern.  But 
when  on  the  second  day  he  failed  to  appear,  she 
was  about  to  send  someone  to  look  for  him,  fearing 
that  an  accident  had  overtaken  him  in  the  storm, 
when  a  messenger  arrived  from  the  fire  guardian. 
Wahnfred's  wife  was  requested  to  make  no  in- 
quiries, but  to  remain  quiet ;  her  husband  was  safe 
and  well  cared  for;  he  sent  greetings  to  his  wife  and 
child,  bidding  them  to  be  brave;  it  was  God's  will 
that  he  should  be  separated  from  them  for  a  short 
time,  but  when  these  evil  days  were  over  there 
would  be  a  happy  reunion ;  only  trust  in  God  and 
keep  quiet. 

This  message  caused  a  presentiment  to  arise  in 
the  wife's  mind, — a  horrible  presentiment  that  gave 
her  no  rest.  She  reflected  by  day  and  prayed  at 
night.  But  whenever  she  thought  of  the  desecrated 
altar  of  her  church,  her  prayerful  soul  was  paralysed. 

And  to  add  to  her  anxieties,  a  death  had  occurred 
in  her  house.  Wahnfred  had  made  a  little  hand-sled 
for  his  son,  Erlefried,  who  often  coasted  with  it 
down  the  mountain  sledge-road.  On  St.  Barbara's 
night,  when  the  sky  had  cleared  and  the  cold  sun 
had  set  pale  behind  the  Johannesberg  and  the  red 
moon  had  risen  over  the  forests  of  the  Tarn,  as  the 
boy  was  returning  in  a  happy  mood  from  his  coast- 
ing, he  saw  a  dark  object  projecting  from  the  snow- 
blocked  road  by  the  river.  It  was  a  bent  and  aged 
man,  the  pauper,  Lull,  who  was  obliged  to  seek  his 
bread  from  house  to  house.     We  recognise  in  him 


The  Crime  139 

the  same  old  man  who  on  that  Midsummer  Day  lay 
in  Little  Baumhackel's  hut  vainly  awaiting  the  last 
rites.  But  as  the  priest,  instead  of  going  to  his 
death-bed,  had  gone  up  to  the  Wildwiese,  old  Lull, 
resolving  not  to  die  without  spiritual  aid,  recovered. 
But  now  he  felt  that  he  could  not  wait  much  longer. 
It  was  uncertain  when  there  would  be  another  priest 
in  Trawies;  and  Lull  had  been  forgotten  by  every- 
one and  the  wind  was  cold  and  raw. 

"  Lull!  "  called  the  boy; ''  Lull,"  he  screamed  in 
the  old  man's  ear,  "  what  are  you  doing  there  ?  " 

The  pauper  shivered,  looked  vacantly  before  him, 
and  said,  "  Dying." 

Erlefried  ran  as  fast  as  he  could  to  the  house  and 
announced  with  horror:  "  Lull  is  dying  down  there! 
Down  there  Lull  is  dying!  " 

They  hastened  to  the  spot,  carried  him  up  to  the 
house,  and  placed  him  in  a  soft  bed ;  Ihe  woman  fed 
him  with  broth,  while  the  boy  stood  by  looking  with 
his  large,  bright  eyes  into  the  pale  face  of  the  aged 
man. 

His  sight  was  already  dim,  but  he  murmured  with 
his  weary  lips:  "  Now,  people  of  Trawies,  the  last 
judgment  will  come  with  all  its  terrors."  Then 
feeling  with  his  thin  hand  after  the  curly  head  of 
the  boy,  he  said:  *'  May  our  Heavenly  Father  bless 
and  keep  thee,  my  dear,  beautiful  child!  " 

The  woman  would  have  watched  with  him  that 
night,  but  he  begged  her  to  go  to  bed.  The  next 
morning  he  was  found  dead. 

Mistress  Wahnfred  was  just  about  to  begin  ar- 
rangements for  old  Lull's  funeral,  when  she  learned 


I40  The  God  Seeker 

that  there  could  be  no  more  Christian  burials  in 
Trawies.  There  was  no  priest  and  the  church  and 
graveyard  were  desecrated. 

How  long  then  must  this  cold  guest  lie  in  her 
house  ?  Was  he  to  fill  Wahnfred's  place  ?  Terri- 
fying thoughts  filled  the  poor  woman's  brain. 

On  the  following  day  Bart-from-Tarn  arrived. 
His  face  was  so  grave  that  the  sight  of  the  dead 
body  in  the  front  room  could  add  nothing  to  its 
gravity.  The  woman,  sore  pressed  and  wringing 
her  hands,  implored  him  to  tell  her  what  she  should 
do  to  have  the  dead  man  removed  from  her  house 
and  the  living  returned  to  it.  She  was  terribly 
anxious,  understanding  nothing  of  that  which  was 
now  happening.  Could  he  not  tell  her  what  it  all 
meant  ? 

"  My  dear  woman,"  replied  Bart,  "  you  wish  me 
to  tell  you  what  you  already  know.  Your  husband 
has  been  accused  of  the  murder." 

She  listened  in  silence;  then  bracing  herself  with 
her  hand  against  the  table,  she  looked  the  man  in 
the  eye,  saying  calmly  and  in  a  low  tone:  "  But  it 
is  not  true."  He  failed  to  notice  that  her  voice, 
apparently  so  composed,  fairly  trembled  with  pain 
and  fear. 

Bart  continued:  "  To-day  we  can  say  nothing; 
Wahnfred  is  still  safe,  although  we  do  not  know 
for  how  long." 

"But  where  is  he?  —  that  I  will  know!"  she 
cried,  raising  her  clasped  hands. 

"  He  is  in  the  care  of  a  friend  and  in  good  hands, 
you  may  be  assured  of  that.     The  bailiffs  are  look- 


The  Crime  14^ 

Jng  for  him ;  they  may  rap  at  this  door  this  very 
hour.  Woman,  you  and  your  child  must  hasten 
away,  or  they  will  drag  you  too  into  misery.  The 
law  is  no  longer  law;  it  is  crazed  with  anger,  it  will 
plunge  all  Trawies  into  ruin.  They  would  torture 
you  as  hostages  until  he  whom  they  are  seeking 
came  forward.  You  must  go  with  me  into  the 
forest  of  Tarn.  I  will  conceal  you  in  my  house." 
Is  he  there  too  ?  "  she  asked  in  great  agitation. 

He  is  there  too,  dear  Bart,  is  he  not  ? " 

Get  yourselves  ready  at  once.  If  we  should  be 
caught  here  we  should  all  of  us  be  lost." 

"  Oh,  mein  Gott,  this  dear  house!  They  will  spoil 
it,  will  burn  it  down!  " 

Burn  it  down!  "  repeated  Bart,  and  his  voice 
had  a  strange  sound.  "  Burn  it  down!  Mistress 
Wahnfred,  do  that  yourself!  This  house  which 
your  husband's  ancestors  built,  this  house  where 
you  have  lived  so  happily — do  not  let  it  be  de- 
stroyed by  infuriated  enemies;  sacrifice  it  yourself, 
sacrifice  it  to  the  flames!  " 

"How  could  I  do  that,  oh,  my  God!"  she 
cried. 

"  Yes,  and  something  else,"  continued  Bart,  his 
excitement  increasing:  "  if  the  house  burns,  of 
course  it  would  be  considered  an  accident,  a  mis- 
fortune, and  the  family  would  escape  with  one  ex- 
ception— Wahnfred — do  you  understand?"  The 
man  pointed  to  the  body  of  old  Lull:  "  This  would 
be  found  among  the  ruins  burnt  to  a  cinder,  and  to- 
morrow the  report  would  be  spread  in  Trawies,  in 
Neubruck,    and    in    Oberkloster:     The   carpenter 


14^  The  God  Seeker 

Wahnfred  is  burned  to  death.  The  search  for  him 
would  cease,  and  your  husband  be  saved." 

"  That  may  be  all  right,  but  God  knows,  I  will 
not  do  it." 

"  Leave  it  in  His  hands,"  said  Bart,  pointing  up- 
wards, but  whether  towards  heaven  or  towards  him- 
self, it  were  difficult  to  say. 

An  hour  later  he  had  carried  his  point  so  far  that 
Mistress  Wahnfred  and  her  boy,  Erlefried,  stood  in 
the  doorway,  wrapped  in  their  winter  garments. 
While  Bart  was  climbing  to  the  roof,  possibly  to 
see  from  the  little  tower  window  whether  their  pur- 
suers were  approaching,  possibly  for  another  reason, 
the  woman  sank  upon  the  door-sill  and  burst  into  a 
torrent  of  tears. 

"  Who  would  have  thought,"  she  cried  in  her  an- 
guish, "  that  such  a  thing  could  happen!  And  as 
suddenly  as  a  flash  of  lightning!  On  a  freezing 
cold  day  Hke  this  to  be  turned  out  into  the  forest ! 
And  when  he  comes,  followed  and  hounded,  to 
conceal  himself  here,  he  will  find  no  child,  no  wife, 
no  house.  No,  I  cannot  leave  thee,  thou  friendly 
roof,  given  to  me  by  him.  God's  blessing  has 
rested  upon  this  home ;  here  I  bore  him  his  child ; 
by  this  hearth  have  we  often  sat  in  our  tranquil 
happiness  about  the  fire,  not  realising  how  happy 
we  were.  What  a  dream  of  mine  it  has  been,  in  our 
old  age  to  live  on  in  peace  in  this  house,  contented 
and  cheerful,  caring  for  my  dear  husband  when  his 
hair  is  white,  our  grandchildren  gathered  about  us. 
Then  would  we  go  to  our  rest,  while  they  would 
live  on  under  their  ancestral  roof.     And  now,  with 


The  Crime  143 

one  stroke,  it  is  all  over  for  ever!  Oh,  my  dear, 
sweet  house,  my  life  is  interwoven  with  every  stone 
of  thy  foundation,  with  every  nail  in  thy  walls. 
Must  I  leave  thee,  my  beloved  house  ?  " 

"  Mistress  Wahnfred,  submit  to  your  fate,"  said 
Bart,  standing  ready  to  depart. 

She,  however,  continued:  "  The  dead  will  rise 
from  their  ashes;  this  house  I  shall  never  see 
again." 

"  Submit  to  your  fate,  Mistress  Wahnfred.  It  is 
growing  dark  already  and  they  may  come  this  very 
day.  Think  of  your  husband;  the  slightest  delay 
might  be  his  ruin.  He  will  not  ask  after  his  house, 
but  after  you,  after  wife  and  child,  and  you  I  will 
save. 

He  tried  to  force  her  to  leave.  She  dipped  her 
fingers  once  more  into  the  vase  of  holy  water,  and 
sprinkling  a  few  drops  into  the  room  and  upon  the 
body  of  old  Lull,  she  cried:  "  Thou  poor,  old,  for- 
tunate man,  thou  art  the  last  one  in  the  house! 
God  bless  it!     God  bless  it!  " 

She  hastened  forth,  little  Erlefried  stumbling 
after  her,  half  benumbed  by  his  mother's  anguish. 
Never  had  he  seen  this  quiet,  gentle  woman  like 
this.  He  had  never  seen  her  weep  before,  but  now 
the  hot  tears  streamed  from  under  her  long  lashes. 
Bart  paid  no  heed  to  her,  knowing  that  loud  lamen- 
tation is  less  painful  than  the  sorrow  which  is  dumb. 

The  three  persons  strode  rapidly  down  to  the 
river.  The  snow  crunched  under  their  feet, — a  cold 
night  was  upon  them.  As  they  were  crossing  the 
bridge,    little    Erlefried    pulled    Bart's    coat    and 


144  The  God  Seeker 

pointing  to  the  Trach,  whispered:   "  See,  there  's 
blood  running  under  this  water!  " 

It  was  the  reflection  of  the  sunset  glow.  Mistress 
Wahnfred,  taking  her  child  by  the  arm,  hastened 
forward  silently,  her  eyes  fixed  straight  before  her. 

On  the  opposite  bank  they  turned  into  a  mountain 
gorge,  through  which  a  rough  path  led  up  to  the 
forests  of  Tarn. 

Bart  looked  back  expectantly  towards  the  house 
that  they  had  just  left.  A  deathlike  peace  still 
reigned  over  the  vine-covered  building;  all  at  once 
a  red  light  shone  from  one  tower  window,  then  from 
another;  and  now  the  destruction  had  begun.  The 
flames  spread,  forming  little  yellow  rings  on  the 
roof  and  sending  their  fiery  tongues  up  into  the  sky. 
The  snow-covered  fields  and  trees  in  the  vicinity 
were  suffused  with  the  ruddy  glow.  At  last  the  en- 
tire house  was  enveloped  and  carpenter  Wahnfred's 
dwelling  became  a  pillar  of  fire. 

In  the  valley  was  a  sound  of  neighing  of  horses 
and  the  clash  of  arms.  Along  the  Trach,  on  the 
road  from  Neubruck  to  Trawies,  a  troop  of  riders 
was  hastening. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

THE  moon  rose  at  midnight  and  the  church -spire 
at  Trawies  soared  like  a  shaft  of  light  above 

the  sleeping  houses. 

The  crunching  sound  of  two  pairs  of  feet  could  be 

heard  stepping  softly  on  the  snow.  Two  men, 
loaded  with  bundles  and  sticks  and  one  carrying  a 
gun,  glided  out  of  Gallo  Weissbucher's  yard  and 
hastened  down  the  valley  towards  the  Trasank. 
Not  until  the  gleaming  spire  of  the  church  had  dis- 
appeared behind  the  cliffs  and  the  last  huts  were  out 
of  sight  did  they  stop  for  a  moment  to  rest  their 
bundles  on  their  sticks.  Then  one  of  the  men, 
drawing  a  deep  breath,  said: 

"  How  good  it  is,  my  Gallo,  to  breathe  God's  free 
air  once  more!  " 

"  I  can  well  believe  it,"  replied  the  other,  "  and 
you  will  now  have  the  opportunity  to  drink  your 
fill  of  God's  free  air." 

**  I  realise,"  said  the  first  speaker,  "  that  I  must 
ascend  to  the  Ritscher  forest,  but  you  might  have 
let  me  take  one  more  look  at  my  house  in  the  Ges- 
tade.  Who  knows  whether  I  shall  ever  see  it 
agam  ? 

"  Your  house,"  replied  Gallo,  "  that  you  will — 

lO 

145 


14^  The  God  Seeker 

but  let  us  go  on.  In  the  Rabenkirche  we  will  stop 
and  rest,  and  then  I  will  tell  you  what  has  been  hap- 
pening over  at  your  house.  It  will  be  hard  for  me 
to  tell  you,  but  harder  still  for  you  to  listen.  Let 
us  go  on." 

The  sledge  track  grew  more  and  more  impassable 
and  finally  ceased  altogether.  For  a  short  distance 
only  the  occasional  footsteps  of  some  wood-cutter 
marked  the  way,  then  these  too  turned  aside  and 
the  fire  guardian  stopped,  saying:  "  I  fear  that  we 
cannot  go  farther  in  the  woods,  so  there  is  nothing 
left  for  us  now  but  to  take  to  the  river,  that  we  may 
leave  no  tracks  behind  us." 

They  picked  their  way  among  the  stones  through 
the  Trach,  which  was  here  quite  free  from  ice.  They 
were  frequently  obliged  to  swing  themselves  with 
their  sticks  from  one  rock  to  another,  and  often  in 
the  darkness  they  slipped  and  fell.  The  noise  of 
the  rushing  mountain  stream  was  so  powerful  that 
they  could  not  hear  their  own  footsteps. 

At  last,  this  difficult  part  of  the  journey  came  to 
an  end,  and  they  stood  before  the  dark  cavern 
called  the  Rabenkirche.  Here  they  started  a  fire, 
and  as  the  flames  lighted  up  the  rough,  jagged 
walls,  within  which  the  oath  of  the  conspiracy  had 
once  re-echoed,  the  carpenter,  with  his  pale,  fright- 
ened face,  gazed  questioningly  at  the  fire  guardian. 

The  latter  then  said:  "  My  dear  Wahnfred,  from 
out  this  cleft  in  the  rock  your  name  was  drawn,  and 
in  this  cleft  you  must  now  bury  your  name.  Since 
our  way  leads  us  past  this  cave,  it  is  the  most  fitting 
place  to  tell  you.     Your  sacrifice  for  Trawies  is  a 


The  Crime  i47 

great  one,  but  you  shall  be  compensated.  Yester- 
day evening  over  in  the  Gestade  the  house  of 
Wahnfred,  the  carpenter,  was  burned  to  the 
ground." 

"  What  are  you  saying  ?"  cried  the  other  in  a 
hollow  voice;  "  my  house  ?  " 

"  Is  in  ashes.     It  will  be  rebuilt." 
"  And  my  family,  Gallo,  my  family  ?  " 
"  Have  fortunately  escaped,  all  but  one — Wahn- 
fred was  burned  with  his  house!  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  such  talk,  Gallo  ?  " 
"  You  will  understand  it  presently.  While  you 
were  concealed  in  my  cellar  the  devil  was  not  idle ; 
he  had  heaped  all  the  suspicion  upon  you  and  your 
family.  There  was  no  other  way  to  save  you  and 
your  wife  and  child  but  to  burn  your  house  and  to 
say  that  the  bones  of  old  pauper  Lull,  which  were 
found  in  the  ruins,  were  yours." 

"  The  bones  of  the  pauper!  Who  killed  him, 
then?" 

"  Come,  my  friend,  murders  are  not  to  continue 
in  Trawies;  Lull  died  a  natural  death.  Bart  has 
taken  your  wife  and  child  to  the  Tarn  forest ;  next 
summer  you  may  see  them,  but  not  now.  Now  you 
must  creep  away  into  the  wilderness  as  far  as  you 
can  creep  and  hide  until  all  the  spies  are  gone.  I 
will  take  your  wife  news  of  you,  be  assured  of  that, 
but  I  must  leave  you  at  once  in  order  to  reach  home 
before  morning.  Stay  concealed  here  until  to-mor- 
row evening,  and  at  twilight  start  on  your  way; 
you  will  need  a  long  night  before  you  reach  the 
hermitage,  which  stands  behind  the  Ritscher  forest. 


HS  The  God  Seeker 

You  know  the  little  hut  at  Donnerstein,  where  hef- 
mits  have  lived  in  times  past.  Yes,  you  were  with 
us  when  we  brought  the  last  one  out  for  burial  a 
few  years  ago.  Take  his  place.  It  is  a  more  fitting 
abode  for  you  than  for  all  the  monks  in  the  world. 
Carry  with  you  as  large  a  quantity  of  these  pro- 
visions as  you  can ;  store  the  rest  in  this  cave  until 
you  need  them;  I  shall  see  that  other  things  are 
brought  here  which  you  cannot  do  without.  But 
always  manage  to  have  two  nights  for  your  journey  ; 
one  to  come,  the  other  to  return.  No  one  must  see 
you  until  your  hair  is  long,  and  your  garments  and 
appearance  are  entirely  changed.  And  when  it  is 
safe  for  you  to  return  to  us,  you  will  find  a  message 
in  this  cleft  in  the  rock." 

"  But  where  shall  I  find  the  message,  my  dear 
Gallo,  if  these  rocks  should  be  destroyed  before 
that  time  ?  "  asked  Wahnfred. 

"  You  must  not  take  it  so  hard,"  answered  the 
fire  guardian.  "  When  the  meadows  are  green  once 
more,  I  hope  to  see  you  here  again." 

"  Man,  now  you  are  saying  something  that  you 
do  not  beheve  yourself.  Take  it  back!  You  know 
very  well,  you  all  know  how  it  will  be  with  me. 
The  meadows  will  be  green  seven  times  and  wither 
seven  times  and  I  shall  find  no  message  in  this 
cleft.  Wahnfred  is  dead  and  he  will  never  come  to 
life.     You  have  killed  him  !  " 

"  I  can  understand  how  you  feel  now,  and  I  par- 
don you  for  your  hasty  words.  But  do  not  forget 
one  thing:  the  blow  which  has  fallen  upon  you 
might  have  fallen  upon  any  one  of  us.     And  I  am 


The  Crime  149 

sure  had  the  lot  fallen  to  me  you  would  have 
concealed  me  in  your  house,  would  have  accom- 
panied me  to  a  place  of  safety,  would  have  brought 
me  the  necessities  of  life.  You  could  not  have  done 
otherwise,  or  spoken  otherwise,  than  I  am  doing 
now." 

**  Am  I  complaining  ?  "  said  Wahnfred.  "  Say 
as  often  as  you  will  that  what  I  have  done  lies 
upon  your  consciences,  —that  may  be,  but  I  must 
suffer  for  it.  My  conscience  would  not  be  less  sens- 
itive had  you  helped  me  commit  the  murder  ten 
times  over.  This  is  something  to  be  settled  with 
myself  and  with  my  God  alone;  and  I  will  do  it 
without  aid  from  any  of  you." 

"  Wahnfred,  you  leave  me  with  such  bitter 
words  ?  " 

"  The  lot  made  an  executioner  of  me;  you  have 
made  me  a  slave  and  a  villain!  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?"  asked  the  fire 
guardian. 

Did  I  ask  you  to  keep  me  prisoner  in  your 
cellar  ?  Did  I  ask  you  to  cast  me  out  into  the  wild- 
erness ?  But  because  of  your  fear  that  I  would 
give  myself  into  the  hands  of  the  law  and  betray 
you,  you  shut  me  up  like  a  horse  thief  and  are  get- 
ting rid  of  me  across  the  frontier  at  night,  as  though 
I  had  no  right  in  Trawies.  Are  you  then  so  sure, 
you  wise  men  of  Trawies,  that  I  should  prefer  a 
miserable  existence  up  there  in  the  wilderness  to  a 
criminal's  death  ?  Then  you  know  me  better  than 
I  know  myself.  I  doubt  if  I  can  keep  away  from 
the  law  very  long." 


I50  The  God  Seeker 

"  And  send  us  all  to  perdition!  "  cried  the  old 
man  in  great  agitation. 

"  Ha,  now  you  tremble!"  laughed  Wahnfred, 
and  how  hollow  his  laughter  sounded!  "  But  why 
should  I  be  angry  with  you  ?  What  if  they  should 
demand  the  forty  heads  in  Trawies !  One  is  enough 
to  expiate  the  crime." 

"  O  Gott,  Wahnfred,  consider :  they  would  not  be 
satisfied  to  kill  you  with  one  stroke,  they  would 
torture  you  until  they  got  your  last  drop  of  blood 
and  your  last  dying  words!  " 

"Come,  then,  fire  guardian,"  said  the  carpen- 
ter, endeavouring  to  drag  the  man  to  the  entrance 
of  the  cave,  *'  come  and  throw  me  into  the  Trach! 
Then  you  will  be  freed  from  all  anxiety." 

**  Are  you  mad,  Wahnfred  ?  In  the  name  of 
your  wife,  in  the  name  of  your  boy,  I  implore  you 
to  flee  and  to  save  yourself!  " 

"My  wife!  My  child!"  groaned  Wahnfred, 
striking  his  head  with  both  hands. 

The  fire  was  dying  out ;  the  cinders  still  crackled 
and  snapped.  Gallo  stood  struggling  for  words  to 
comfort  and  reconcile  his  unhappy  companion.  He 
felt  too  deeply  how  Trawies  was  indebted  to  this 
man.  Two  crimes,  heavy  and  terrible,  would  now 
rest  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  Trawies  parish, — the 
dead  man  yonder,  the  ruined  man  here. 

After  a  while  Wahnfred  became  calm  and  col- 
lected. "  Well,  well,  I  will  live,"  he  said;  "  death 
would  not  expiate  such  a  crime,  but  life  alone.  Go 
home,  fire  guardian — and  one  thing :  let  me  be  for- 
gotten !     Say  to  the  others,  they  owe  me  nothing, 


The  Crime  t$t 

and  let  me  be  forgotten !  Out  of  my  sight,  stranger, 
out  of  my  sight !  " 

With  a  repellant  gesture,  he  sprang  from  the 
cave — and  the  fire  guardian  saw  him  no  more. 

Gallo  searched  in  every  direction,  but  heard  no 
sound  other  than  the  rushing  river.  Above  the 
ravine  the  rocks  of  the  Trasank  shimmered  in  the 
light  of  the  moon. 

With  an  anxious,  heavy  heart,  such  as  he  had 
never  known  before,  the  aged  man  returned  over 
the  inhospitable  paths.  Weary  and  broken,  he  ap- 
proached his  house,  longing  for  rest;  but  it  was  to 
be  denied  him  on  this  day. 

While  still  some  distance  away,  he  heard  noises 
in  his  yard  and  saw  lights  in  his  windows.  Over  in 
the  village  the  people  were  abroad  and  there  seemed 
to  be  an  unusual  commotion  in  the  valley.  The 
neighing  of  horses  and  the  clash  of  arms  resounded 
as  never  before  in  these  woods,  and  lanterns  were 
gleaming  here  and  there  among  the  trees. 

The  yard  of  the  fire  guardian  was  filled  with 
soldiers;  others  were  searching  the  house  and  out- 
buildings, demanding  Gallo  Weissbucher  of  the 
house  mistress  and  of  the  servants.  He  was  no- 
where to  be  found ;  apparently  he  had  flown,  so  he 
must  be  an  accomplice. 

Fortunately  he  arrived  at  this  moment  and  asked 
what  was  wanted  of  him. 

The  reply  was  another  question :  Where  had  he 
been  wandering  about  during  the  night  ? 

He  answered  calmly  that  he  was  accountable  to 
no  one  for  his  actions,  but  if  he,  as  head  of  the 


152  The  God  Seeker 

parish,  had  been  out  searching  for  the  murderer  in 
the  houses  of  Trawies,  they  should  be  thankful  to 
him,  instead  of  meeting  him  so  rudely.  The  forest 
parish  of  Trawies  was  still  a  place  where  grey-haired 
men  were  accustomed  to  be  respected. 

There  was  no  time  to  discuss  this  now;  he  was 
ordered  to  go  with  the  soldiers  to  the  Gestade. 
The  murderer  had  burned  himself  in  his  own 
house. 

Such  was  the  common  report  already ;  the  bones 
of  the  carpenter,  Wahnfred,  burnt  to  a  cinder,  had 
been  discovered  in  the  ruins. 

But  there  were  too  many  officers  present  from 
Neubruck  and  Oberkloster  and  from  more  distant 
parts.  The  investigation  proved  that  the  little 
withered  skeleton,  with  its  toothless  jaws,  could  not 
be  that  of  the  tall,  youthful  man. 

"This  sacrifice  has  been  in  vain!'"  whispered 
Bart-from-Tarn  to  the  fire  guardian. 

Now  the  carpenter  and  his  family  were  de- 
manded. 

"  Where  shall  we  look  for  them  ?  "  asked  Firner- 
hans.  "  If  my  hut  burned  down,  I  would  not  re- 
flect long  in  these  days  as  to  what  I  should  do  in 
Trawies.  I  should  cut  myself  a  strong  stick  and 
depart.  The  carpenter  has  probably  done  the  same. 
Look  out  on  the  public  roads  among  the  beggars; 
or  you  may  have  the  good  fortune  to  find  him  in 
some  carpenter  shop  in  Neubruck, — how  should  I 
know!" 

A  stern-faced,  bearded  man  sat  upon  his  horse, 
listening.     With  his  left  hand  he  seized  his  sword. 


The  Crime  153 

his  right  he  clenched,  and  with  a  gesture  of  defiance 
towards  the  men  of  Trawies,  he  snarled:  "  By  God 
Almighty  and  the  devil !  Your  heads  shall  answer 
for  it  if  I  do  not  have  the  murderer  within  twenty- 
four  hours !  " 


CHAPTER  XIV 

SINCE  the  memory  of  man  so  many  ravens 
have  not  been  seen  in  the  valley  of  the 
Trach  as  during  this  winter." 

"  How  can  it  be  otherwise,  when  the  dead  in 
Trawies  are  not  buried  ?  " 

"  What  kind  of  a  Christmas  festival  shall  we  have 
this  year  ?  Trawies  is  besieged  as  if  it  were  a  nest 
of  robbers;  a  bailiff  stands  under  every  tree." 

"  And  to-morrow  a  peasant  will  hang  on  every 
tree!" 

Such  was  the  conversation  of  a  little  company  of 
people  walking  along  the  highway;  among  them 
were  a  few  of  the  oldest  men  who  had  been  sum- 
moned to  appear  at  the  parsonage,  under  penalty 
of  losing  all  their  possessions. 

"  To  even  hear  the  word  parsonage  is  enough  to 
give  one  a  feeling  of  horror,"  grumbled  Uli,  the 
charcoal-burner. 

"  We  should  have  managed  it  in  quite  a  different 
way,"  said  Firnerhans;  "  but  't  is  the  way  of  the 
worid :  '  Clever  thoughts  and  a  knocked-kneed 
horse  always  come  limping  in  too  late.'  We  should 
have  done  with  the  parsonage  as  was  done  with  the 
carpenter's  house  over   there.      The  priest  would 

154 


The  Crime  155 

have  lost  his  life.  An  accident !  Who  could  help 
it!" 

A  few  soldiers,  with  unsheathed  swords,  ap- 
proached the  group,  indicating  to  them  that  they 
must  disperse. 

"  But  I  tell  you,"  said  the  charcoal-burner,  "  we 
have  been  summoned  to  the  meeting  in  the  par- 
sonage." 

"  Crowds  are  not  allowed  upon  the  public  high- 
road.    Disperse!  " 

Firnerhans  received  a  shove  from  the  butt-end  of 
a  musket  and,  with  a  savage  curse,-  he  sprang  upon 
the  bailiff;  a  struggle  ensued  between  the  peasants 
and  soldiers,  and  when  they  separated,  Firnerhans 
lay  stretched  upon  the  blood-bespattered  snow. 
After  a  while  he  rose  slowly,  and  dragging  himself 
into  the  tavern,  in  an  excited  speech  he  urged  the 
people  there  assembled  to  rise  against  the  tyrants. 
The  others  were  driven  into  the  parsonage,  where 
they  were  strictly  guarded  in  the  large  room  until 
the  arrival  of  the  authorities. 

The  officers  of  the  law  wore  black  robes  over  their 
uniforms.  There  were  also  priests  among  them  who 
seemed  to  preside  over  the  meeting.  Most  of  them 
were  pale  and  stern.  One,  however,  was  exceed- 
ingly stout,  his  features  so  buried  in  fat  that  it  was 
difficult  to  tell  whether  he  was  endeavouring  to  look 
severe  or  to  smile.  But  the  ruddy  glow  of  his 
broad  countenance  seemed  to  be  not  so  much  the 
glow  of  anger  as  one  of  gratitude  for  the  liquid 
gifts  of  God.  Among  the  pious,  nothing  is  useless, 
not  even  the  portly  waist,  which  in  this  case  served 


156  The  God  Seeker 

as  a  cushion  for  a  golden  cross  hanging  by  a  chain 
from  his  neck;  for  this  well-preserved  gentleman 
was  the  prelate  of  Oberkloster.  He  sat  behind  the 
green  table  in  a  massive  armchair.  Beside  him 
stood  a  slender,  youthful  priest  with  shaven  face 
and  short  hair ;  his  deep-set  eyes  were  grey  like  a 
foggy  day  when  it  cannot  be  seen  whether  the  sun 
is  rising  or  setting.  About  the  corners  of  his  mouth 
were  lines  like  those  left  by  a  forced  smile.  He  was 
called  Pater  Dominicus.  He  did  not  sit  down  and 
his  movements  showed  impatience. 

Upon  the  table  stood  a  crucifix  and  papers  were 
lying  about.  When  the  men  were  assembled  and 
the  doors  guarded,  Pater  Dominicus  murmured  the 
words:  "  In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity!  " 

One  of  the  lawyers  now  took  the  protocol  and  be- 
gan to  read.  He  read  for  over  an  hour,  during 
which  the  men  of  Trawies  often  clenched  their  fists 
and  raised  their  eyebrows. 

When  the  paper  was  finished  and  the  reader  had 
cast  an  icy  look  over  at  the  peasants,  the  white- 
bearded  judge  from  Neubruck  rose  and  said:  "  You 
have  heard  it!  " 

A  dead  silence. 

"  You  have  heard,  men  of  Trawies,  that  you  are 
guilty  of  the  death  of  your  priest.  God's  voice  hath 
spoken.  The  people  of  Trawies  have  been  ex- 
amined, every  answer  has  been  strictly  weighed,  and 
that  which  the  most  foully  murdered  Herr  Fpancis- 
cus  has  repeatedly  told  us — and  which  we  were  very 
loth  to  believe,  for  we  had  always  been  accustomed 
to  obedience  from  our  peasants — has  been  proved 


The  Crime  tsf 

true.  Now  it  is  as  clear  as  day,  you  are  rebels! 
You  have  disregarded  the  mandates  of  your  master 
and  refused  him  obedience  in  spiritual  and  worldly 
things.  You  have  tried  in  numerous  ways  to  bring 
about  the  removal  of  the  priest,  placed  over  you  by 
the  highest  authorities,  and,  failing  in  this,  have  then 
conspired  to  dispose  of  him  by  other  means.  To-day 
no  one  can  longer  deny  that  the  murderer  is  one  of 
your  own  community;  that  you  have  given  the 
criminal  assistance  in  the  deed,  and  that  you  have 
him  somewhere  in  hiding.  Since  the  search  in  the 
houses  has  been  fruitless,  we  must  infer  that  the 
man  is  moving  about  freely  among  you."  The 
judge  now  raised  his  voice:  "  You  oldest  men  of 
the  parish!  Not  one  of  you  shall  return  home  until 
you  have  named  the  murderer  and  delivered  him 
up!" 

"  Treason !  "  shouted  a  voice  from  among  the  ac- 
cused. "  Treason  from  the  law  itself!  Caught  and 
shut  up  here  like  stray  dogs!  " 

The  gleaming  bayonets  of  the  soldiers  appeared 
in  the  doorway. 

The  judge  stood  motionless.  When  quiet  once 
more  reigned,  he  cried:  "In  the  name  of  the  jus- 
tice of  heaven  and  of  earth !  You  men  whose  hair 
has  become  grey  in  the  service  of  your  parish,  we 
implore  you  not  faithlessly  to  plunge  your  own 
homes  into  destruction.  The  law  raises  the  sword 
over  all  Trawies.  Protect  yourselves  and  your 
comrades — deliver  up  the  murderer!  " 

From  out  the  crowd  of  men  the  oldest  now  forced 
his     way,  —  Gallo    Weissbucher,    chief     and    fire 


158  The  God  Seeker 

guardian.  Supporting  himself  upon  a  stick — for  his 
knees  trembled— he  approached  the  officers  and 
spoke : 

"  For  that  which  has  happened  amongst  us,  for 
that,  your  Excellence,  are  you  yourself  to  blame. 
To  scorn  and  defy  us  you  sent  the  answer  to  our 
petition  by  the  priest  himself.  For  generations 
back  we  have  been  free-born  peasants,  and  rather 
than  become  slaves  of  tyranny  we  will  go  to  de- 
struction. He  trod  upon  us  and  despised  us;  he 
forbade  us  our  old  rights  in  the  forest  and  in  the 
game;  he  was  inconsiderate  in  demanding  tithes 
when  our  harvests  were  poor;  he  insulted  our  an- 
cient customs.  Was  it  out  of  spite  and  hatred,  or 
for  his  own  pleasure  ?  From  many  a  poor  soul  has 
he  withheld  the  sacrament  and  extreme  unction  in 
the  dying  hour.  Only  look  about  you!  On  these 
very  walls  his  history  stands  written :  deer-antlers, 
dog-whips,  boar's  teeth,  cudgels,  and,  by  heaven, 
bags  full  of  game  besides!  Where  formerly  hung 
the  ciborium,  now  dangles  the  rifle;  where  formerly 
lay  the  Bible,  playing-cards  are  now  to  be  found. 
And  this  was  the  priest  placed  here  as  our  model ! 
Were  we  to  be  forced  to  live  and  die  with  such  a 
one  ?  Give  us  a  just  man,  give  us  z. priest — we  are 
honest  subjects  and  good  Christians.  Give  us  our 
liberty  and  we  will  be  faithful — but  that  which  has 
happened  we  do  not  regret!  " 

"  Take  note  of  the  confession,"  whispered  Pater 
Dominicus  to  the  recorder. 

The  judge  then  said:  "  For  the  last  time  I  com- 
mand you  to  deliver  up  the  murderer'  " 


The  Crime  159 

The  fire  guardian,  pressing  forward  to  the  table, 
seized  the  crucifix  and  cried:  "  So  truly  as  they 
nailed  our  Lord,  an  innocent  man,  upon  the  cross, 
we  will  not  deliver  him  up!  " 

"You  shall   not  desecrate  the  cross!"  said  the 
pale   Pater,    springing  forward   and  snatching   the  / 
crucifix  from  the  man's  hand.     "  By  this  sacred  im-/ 
age  have  we  sworn  to  make  you  suffer  the  penalty 
for  the  death  of  our  brother." 

"  The  priest  would  take  even  our  cross  away !  V 
cried  a  sturdy  woodsman.  "Seizehim!  Seizehiml" 

Some  of  the  men,  in  spite  of  the  remonstrances 
of  the  fire  guardian,  fell  upon  the  judges,  threw  the 
Pater  to  the  floor,  breaking  the  crucifix  in  twain  in 
his  hand  before  the  soldiers  could  reach  the  spot. 

"  All  is  over  with  us!"  cried  the  fire  guardian, 
wringing  his  hands.  The  muskets  and  bayonets 
clattered  and  a  shot  was  fired  over  the  heads  of  the 
excited  crowd. 

"  Down,  down  with  these  dogs  of  peasants!  "  was 
called  from  among  the  sorely  beset  judges.  And 
now  a  horrible  struggle  began  between  the  soldiers 
and  peasants.  The  latter,  at  last  realising  that  they 
had  nothing  more  to  lose,  gave  free  rein  to  their 
passion  and,  more  infuriated  than  ever,  fell  upon 
the  judges,  who  were  with  difficulty  protected  by 
the  soldiers.  ' 

At  the  same  moment  a  wild  tumult  was  heard 
outside  and  stones  flew  in  through  the  windows. 

"  Lock  the  doors!  "  the  chief  judge  was  heard  to 
say,  as  the  people  assembled  without  clamoured 
louder  and  louder  for  entreince.     The  fire  guardian 


i6o  The  God  Seeker 

implored  his  comrades  in  the  room,  implored  the 
excited  crowd  outside  to  be  quiet,  but  all  in  vain. 
Blood  flowed  upon  the  floor,  the  green  table  was 
overturned,  the  papers  had  been  torn  into  bits  and 
the  pieces  floated  in  the  air.  Pater  Dominicus,  at 
first  in  the  greatest  danger,  had  succeeded,  with  the 
aid  of  two  soldiers,  in  freeing  himself,  and  had 
climbed  upon  a  chest  which  stood  against  the  wall, 
beseeching  the  Archangel  Michael  to  protect  them 
from  this  hellish  pack  of  hounds.  Even  the  prelate 
had  become  more  agile,  having  barricaded  himself 
in  a  dark  corner  behind  a  praying-desk,  his  face,  in 
his  fright  and  anxiety,  showing  at  last  some  signs  of 
expression.  The  white-bearded  judge  of  Neubruck 
remained  the  calmest  of  all.  Seeing  that  the  peas- 
ants were  without  weapons,  he  warned  the  soldiers 
not  to  make  use  of  theirs  except  in  extreme  neces- 
sity. "  These  people  here,"  he  cried,  "  must  not 
be  massacred;  they  must  be  condemned!  " 

At  this  moment  someone  shouted:  "  Fire!  The 
parsonage  is  burning!  " 

As  the  door  flew  open  the  smoke  forced  its  way 
in,  and  the  crackling  of  burning  wood  was  heard. 

"  No  one  shall  leave  until  the  rebels  are  se- 
cured! "  commanded  the  judge. 

Then  the  struggle  began  anew,  and  amid  the 
smoke  and  flames  the  oldest  men  of  Trawies  lost 
what  little  was  left  of  their  liberty.  With  arms 
bound  behind  their  backs,  they  were  led  down  the 
burning  stairway,  followed  by  the  body  of  the  mur- 
dered priest,  borne  upon  the  bier  by  soldiers — the 
last  to  leave  the  house. 


The  Crime  i6i 

The  burning  building  was  surrounded  by  a  yell- 
ing mob  of  men  and  boys  from  the  neighbourhood, 
and  there  were  screaming  women  among  them, 
clamouring  for  liberty  and  watching  for  their  oppor- 
tunity to  plunder. 

Suddenly  a  shot  was  fired ;  a  young  girl  fell  in  the 
midst  of  the  crowd,  which  was  quite  ready  to  dis- 
perse when  it  saw  that  soldiers  with  drawn  weapons 
were  charging  upon  it  from  the  house,  from  the 
valley,  and  from  the  woods.  But  it  was  already 
surrounded,  and  being  shut  in  and  blinded  by  the 
thick  curtain  of  smoke,  every  retreat  seemed  to  be 
cut  off,  A  cry  of  terror  arose  and  all  fled  at  last  to 
the  church  to  take  refuge  within  its  walls. 

"  Well  and  good,"  said  the  judge,  "  these  walls 
are  secure.  Lead  in  the  prisoners  also  and  lock  the 
doors." 

As  twilight  approached  a  strange  assembly  was 
gathered  in  God's  house  at  Trawies.  The  people 
screamed,  cursed,  and  threatened;  they  called  upon 
the  images  of  the  saints  to  protect  them  against 
this  tyranny.  One  man  seized  the  rope  and  rang 
the  bells;  another  sprang  upon  the  bellows  and 
struck  the  organ,  sending  forth  shrill,  discordant 
sounds.  And  through  the  windows  shone  the  gleam 
from  the  burning  parsonage. 

The  fire  guardian  stood  by  the  communion  table, 
staring  at  the  large,  dark  spot  upon  the  stone  floor. 
Such  was  the  fruit  of  the  seed  sown  on  that  fatal 
day  in  the  Rabenkirche.  He  did  not  dream  that 
this  was  only  the  beginning  of  the  events  which 
were  about  to  ruin  and  destroy  Trawies, 


CHAPTER    XV 

THE  night  of  doom  had  come.  Under  the 
linden-tree  in  the  graveyard  the  authorities 
from  Neubruck  and  Oberkloster  took  counsel  to- 
gether as  to  what  was  now  to  be  done.  The  pro- 
posal to  have  the  skull  of  the  murdered  man  filled 
three  times  with  gold  was  not  accepted.  The  peo- 
ple of  Trawies  should  not  be  permitted  to  buy  their 
peace  with  money.  The  judges  agreed  that  these 
rebels,  criminals,  and  traitors  should  suffer  the  se- 
verest penalty  that  it  was  possible  for  the  Church 
and  the  law  to  inflict.  And  they  then  decided  upon 
a  plan.  It  was  not  original  with  them ;  it  had  been 
employed  elsewhere  for  the  punishment  of  crime. 
In  those  days  the  magistrates  did  not  receive  their 
authority  from  the  people,  but  claimed  that  it  was 
given  them  by  God  Himself,  and  they  often  used 
their  power  in  a  heartless  and  inhuman  manner. 

As  night  fell,  soldiers  entered  the  church,  un- 
bound and  disarmed  the  prisoners,  arranging  them 
on  either  side  of  the  chancel,  as  if  a  processional 
were  about  to  take  place.  Two  candles  were  hghted 
on  the  altar.  The  door  of  the  sacristy  was  then 
opened ;  the  body  of  the  priest,  borne  by  four  men, 
was  brought  in  and  laid  upon  the  steps,  where  a  few 

162 


The  Crime  163 

days  before  he  had  fallen  from  the  blow  of  the  axe. 
Pater  Dominicus,  in  his  long,  black  robe,  now  came 
forward  carrying  a  chalice,  which  he  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  dead  man.  Last  of  all,  the  other  judges 
and  priests  arrived  and  grouped  themselves  about 
the  altar. 

During  these  proceedings  there  was  a  deep  silence 
among  the  prisoners. 

'*  What  is  going  to  happen  ?  '  they  then  whisp- 
ered to  one  another. 

"  It  is  the  Judgment  of  God,"  '  said  one. 

"The  Judgment  of  God!  If  they  are  seeking 
the  murderer,  each  one  of  us  will  be  ordered  to  lay 
his  hand  upon  the  body  of  the  dead  priest;  at  the 
touch  of  the  murderer  the  wound  will  bleed." 

"A  most  interesting  spectacle!  And  if  the 
murderer  is  not  here  ?  " 

'*  Then  the  wound  will  not  bleed." 

"  And  if  it  does  not  bleed  ?  " 

"  Then  the  murderer  is  not  here.  That  is  the 
Judgment  of  God." 

"  It  will  not  be  dangerous  for  us." 

The  murmuring  ceased,  for  the  judge  raised  his 
voice  and  spoke : 

"  I  am  an  aged  man — a  sinner  myself — and  I  have 
grown  grey  at  my  task  of  executing  the  law,  but 
never  was  a  verdict  harder  for  me  to  give  than  the 
one  I  must  pronounce  to-day.  I  close  my  ears  to 
my  words,  for  I  say  them  in  the  name  of  justice. 

'  '  Judgment  of  God  :  "  A  decision  by  some  perilous  experiment — 
a  term  applied  to  extraordinary  trials  of  secret  crimes,  it  being 
imagined  that  God  would  work  miracles  to  vindicate  innocence." 


1 64  The  God  Seeker 

-^  As  the  matter  now  stands,  the  law  cares  no  longef 
to  punish  the  tool  of  the  crime — this  we  could  easily 
discover  by  means  of  torture — but  the  criminal. 
And  in  this  case  the  criminal  is  the  people  of 
Trawies.  Men  of  Trawies,  to-day  for  the  last  time 
you  are  to  march  in  solemn  procession  about  the 
altar  of  your  old  parish  church !  Each  one  of  you, 
as  you  pass  the  dead  priest,  shall  take  from  the 
chalice  that  stands  at  his  head  a  grain  of  corn 
wrapped  in  a  bit  of  paper.  The  grains  are  white 
and  grew  in  God's  earth;  but  there  are  twelve 
among  them  which  are  black.  Whoever  draws  one 
of  the  twelve  shall,  in  three  days  from  now, 
die  by  the  sword  and  appear  before  the  Eternal 
Judge." 

A  heart-rending  cry  arose  from  the  crowd  and 
the  people  huddled  together, — '*  like  sheep  in  a  barn 
when  the  thief  is  after  its  victim,"  says  the  old 
chronicle.  '*  They  rushed  about  wildly,  imploring 
the  saints  of  heaven  to  save  them ;  they  shook  the 
doors  as  though  they  would  tear  them  down ;  they 
struck  their  heads  against  the  walls ;  they  called  on 
the  devil  with  such  frightful  oaths  that  even  the 
priests  trembled." 7< 

When  the  tumult  had  sufificiently  subsided  for  the 
judge  to  speak,  he  continued:  "  That  you  may  see 
how  God,  in  His  mercy,  has  mitigated  this  sentence, 
the  kernels  in  the  chalice  far  outnumber  your  heads, 
and  should  you,  in  spite  of  appearances,  be  innocent 
of  the  crime,  it  is  quite  possible  that  you  may  all 
escape." 

The  fire  guardian  now  advanced,  his  figure  drawn 


The  Crime  165 

to  its  full  height,  his  grey  head  erect,  his  hands 
stretched  out  towards  the  priests. 

Stop!  "  he  cried  in  a  hollow  voice.  **  Stop, 
you  men  of  justice!  Such  desecration  in  this  holy 
place!  That  is  the  chalice  for  the  blood  of  our 
Lord,  Throw  away  the  lots!  Throw  away  the 
lots!" 

He  attempted  to  seize  the  chalice,  but  a  soldier 
pushed  him  back. 

"  And  if  you,"  he  continued,  "  intend  to  atone 
for  the  murder  committed  here  with  murder,  then 
take  this  old  man,  the  head  of  the  parish,  and  ex- 
piate with  his  blood  that  which  must  be  expiated  !  " 
Wringing  his  hands,  he  fell  prostrate  before  the 
judges  and  cried:  "  Take  my  life,  I  implore  you, 
but  let  the  people  go !  " 

"  Rise,  old  man,"  said  the  judge  coldly,  "  and 
do  not  interfere  with  the  Judgment  of  God.  You 
shall  be  spared  from  putting  your  hand  into  the 
chalice.  Let  the  procession  begin !  Those  to  whom 
God  shows  mercy  may  pass  out  through  the  sacristy 
and  go  home  free,  " 

>•  A  sign  was  given  to  the  soldiers  and  the  people 
were  set  in  motion. 

The  narrator  has  sought  in  vain  for  colours  with 
which  to  paint  the  despair  that  settled  upon  the 
faces  of  the  men  during  this  gloomy  procession,  but 
the  chronicle  briefly  states:  "  Seeing  that  it  was  in- 
evitable, they  advanced  bravely,  each  one  mutter- 
ing: '  If  the  lot  falls  to  me,  the  sooner  my  account 
with  death  is  settled,  the  better.' 

With  heavy  steps  and  solemn  faces  they  walked 


1 66  The  God  Seeker 

around  the  altar,  approached  the  dead  man,  and 
drew  their  lots.  Some  cast  a  glance  of  hatred  at 
the  murdered  priest ;  others  turned  shuddering 
away,  more  terrified  at  the  sight  than  at  the  death- 
laden  chalice,  containing  perhaps  their  own  doom; 
some  reached  with  trembling  hand  into  the  cup ; 
some  with  a  bold  grasp,  gnashing  their  teeth  an- 
grily, as  if  they  would  grapple  with  fate.  Then 
each  man  was  led  before  the  judge,  the  little  pack- 
age taken  from  his  hand  and  opened.  If  the  kernel 
was  white,  even  the  judges  seemed  to  draw  a  long 
breath  of  relief,  and  the  fortunate  man  was  allowed 
to  pass  out  through  the  narrow  doorway.  And  how 
he  shouted  for  joy  in  the  quiet  starlit  night !  How 
he  leapt  about  with  the  nimbleness  of  youth, — even 
though  he  were  a  bent  old  man, — how  he  swore  to 
keep  away  from  the  church  at  Trawies  and  thence- 
forth to  say  his  prayers  in  the  green  woods  under 
God's  bright  sky!  > 

The  few  women  who  were  imprisoned  with  the 
others  escaped  in  safety;  but  they  wrung  their 
hands  in  dismay  at  this  strange  spectacle  and  at  the 
parsonage,  now  in  ashes,  and,  muttering  a  prayer, 
they  hastened  away. 

The  roadster  from  the  lower  Trach  was  the  first 
to  draw  a  black  kernel  from  the  chalice.  When  he 
saw  it,  he  started  back  in  horror,  but  then  stood 
firmly,  pale  and  motionless.  He  was  followed  by  a 
number  of  the  more  fortunate,  who,  sighing  for  joy, 
went  out  into  the  starry  night.  There  was  one 
among  them  who  strode  as  gloomily  and  solemnly 
to  his  freedom  as  if  he  were  going  to  his  death. 


The  Crime  167 

"  Why  do  you  not  say,  '  praise  God! '  "  asked  a 
neighbour  outside. 

"  For  what  ?  "  the  man  replied.  "  Oh,  friend,  as 
things  will  now  be,  death  were  better  for  us  than 
life!" 

The  second  man  to  be  condemned  was  a  wood- 
cutter from  the  Tarn.     He  burst  into  a  shrill  laugh. 

The  third  followed  soon,  an  old  workman  from 
Sandhok's  farm,  who  had  a  passion  for  bowling  and 
cards. 

"  I  knew  it,"  he  cried  angrily;  "  if  something  is 
at  stake,  I  always  lose!  " 

The  next  were  two  peasants  from  the  Johannes- 
berg.  They  showed  no  sign.  A  number  then 
passed  out  and  the  blood-stained  Firnerhans  drew  a 
black  kernel. 

After  him  came  Rocken-Paul's  man,  Simon,  who 
had  already  been  saved  so  miraculously  and  who 
had  had  the  ill-fortune  to  venture  near  the  church 
to-day.  He  hesitated  a  long  time  before  putting 
his  hand  into  the  chalice,  then  plunged  it  to  the 
very  bottom.  Without  approaching  the  judges,  he 
quickly  opened  the  paper  himself,  as  if  he  were  tak- 
ing a  nut  from  its  shell,  and  held  it  aloft.  It  was 
black. 

*'  Yes,  my  beloved  Han!  "he  sighed,  as  he  joined 
the  condemned  in  the  alcove  guarded  by  soldiers. 

A  long  procession  passed  out  into  the  night,  into 
the  open  forest.  How  sadly  Simon  gazed  after 
them ! 

A  few  men  from  the  upper  Trach  now  drew  the 
fatal  kernels,  among  them  a  pedlar  who  had  come 


i68  The  God  Seeker 

to  Trawies  to  sell  tinder  and  rat  poison.  He  fell 
upon  his  knees  before  the  judges,  pleading  that  he 
was  innocent  and  did  not  belong  to  the  heathenish 
Trawiesers ;  that  he  told  his  beads  every  day,  often 
fasting  for  weeks — he  had  voluntarily  chosen  pov- 
erty; that  he  furnished  the  tinder  to  the  pious 
brothers  at  Oberkloster  for  their  consecrated  fire  in 
the  church  and  in  the  kitchen ;  that  he  always 
brought  them  the  pitch  for  their  wine -casks  in  the 
cellar;  and  that  he  was  thinking  of  taking  orders 
himself.  It  was  all  in  vain.  The  judges  appealed 
to  the  Judgment  of  God,  saying:  "  The  Eternal 
One  knows  why  He  requires  your  life '  "  The  poor 
creature  rolled  on  the  floor,  where  he  writhed  in 
agony  until  he  became  senseless. 

Next  came  a  man  at  whose  appearance  some 
could  hardly  refrain  from  laughing;  others  said; 
"  Mein  Gott  !     That  one  too  1  " 

It  was  the  dwarf  from  Firnerhans'  farm,  the 
"  Three-Headed  Osel."  At  first  he  gazed  a  while 
at  the  dead  man,  then  limping  up  to  the  chalice, 
began  to  play  with  the  kernels.  Finally  selecting 
one,  he  handed  it  to  the  judges.  It  was  black. 
Osel  smiled,  demanded  it  back  as  his  property,  put 
it  into  his  pocket,  and,  with  apparent  self-complac- 
ency, took  his  place  among  the  condemned. 

The  judges  looked  at  each  other  question ingly. 
Are  not  the  weak-minded  exempt  ?  Is  such  a  crea- 
ture capable  of  sin  .?  By  no  means.  As  the  last  of 
the  uncondemned  were  passing  through  the  door- 
way the  Three- Headed  Osel  started  to  follow  them 
and  no  one  prevented  him. 


The  Crime  169 

The  church  was  now  empty.  Only  a  few  kernels 
remained  in  the  chalice,  no  more  black  ones  among 
them.  The  judges  departed.  The  eleven  men 
who  had  drawn  the  fatal  lots  were  taken  into  the 
sacristan's  little  house,  where  they  were  strictly 
guarded.  From  the  ruins  of  the  parsonage  the 
smoke  rose  slowly  and  sadly,  covering  the  starry  sky 
with  a  thick  veil. 

The  poor  unfortunate  men  lay  about  on  the 
straw;  one  deeply  buried  under  it,  another  cower- 
ing in  a  corner;  a  third  was  lying  upon  his  face,  the 
next  upon  his  back,  supporting  his  head  on  his 
arms.  Thus  they  had  lain  for  many  hours.  No 
one  asked  them  how  they  had  slept  that  night  in 
their  new  quarters.  They  were  allowed  to  remain 
in  their  rough  beds  until  late  in  the  morning. 

"  What  are  we  waiting  for  ? "  asked  one. 

"  To  be  beheaded,  '  answered  his  neighbour. 

At  the  doors  and  windows  stood  the  soldiers, 
their  bayonets  glittering  in  the  sun. 

There  were  a  few  among  the  prisoners  who  had 
wailed  and  lamented  the  entire  night,  and  now,  ex- 
hausted, were  lying  half  asleep. 

'*  My  father  always  told  me,"  remarked  the 
wood -cutter  from  the  Tarn,  the  one  who  had  laughed 
when  he  drew  his  lot,  "  my  father  always  said  that 
smoking  tobacco  was  bad  for  the  health,  and  he  was 
right,  for  the  devil's  weed  has  killed  me." 

*'  But  you  are  alive  now    PisteL  " 

*'  I  am  as  near  drawing  my  last  breath  as  you  are. 
For   a   whole  year  I  have  not  been  to  church   in 


170  The  God  Seeker 

Trawies,  not  since  the  tavern  was  started  m  the  Tarn. 
But  just  as  this  miserable  snowstorm  came  on  and 
the  women  folks  refused  to  go  in  the  bad  weather 
to  mass,  my  tobacco  gave  out,  and  so  it  happened 
that  I  had  to  come  to  Trawies  myself.  And  when 
my  pockets  were  full  and  my  purse  empty,  I  joined 
the  crowd  at  the  parsonage  which  was  burning. 
With  a  turn  of  the  hand  the  devil  had  me  and  here 
I  am.  So  I  say :  Don't  get  into  the  habit  of 
smoking!  " 

"  If  I  had  only  been  clever  enough,"  said  Sand- 
hok's  old  man,  "  to  have  taken  out  several  kernels 
at  once — there  would  surely  have  been  a  white  one 
among  them  —  and  to  have  thrown  the  black  ones 
away!     If  I  had  only  been  clever  enough! " 

"  Ha,  ha!  you  've  cheated  at  cards  all  your  life 
and  now  in  this  last  game,  when  your  head  's  at 
stake,  you  show  an  honesty  which  is  scandal- 
ising." 

"  Oh,  oh,  oh!  "  sighed  the  man. 

'*  Surely,  now,"  cried  another,  rising  from  the 
straw,  "  they  just  want  to  frighten  us  a  bit  and  then 
they  will  let  us  go.  I  could  never  believe  that  the 
law  would  put  us  to  death  like  a  band  of  murderers, 
and  each  one  of  us  is  as  innocent,  so  far  as  the 
priest  is  concerned,  as  the  Lamb  of  God  in 
heaven !  " 

**  Friend,"  said  Firnerhans,  "  don't  flatter  your- 
self. You  must  still  remember  how,  a  few  years 
ago,  the  letter  carrier  from  Siebenbaum  was  robbed 
and  murdered  on  the  highway.  Every  traveller 
found  upon  this   road  was   arrested,    and   because 


The  Crime  171 

none  of  them  would  confess  to  the  murder,  three, 
chosen  by  lot,  lost  their  heads." 

Have  you  heard  that  story  too  ?  "  asked  in  a 
wailing  tone  the  pedlar  of  tinder. 

One  only  needs  to  know  the  law,"  continued 
Firnerhans  ;  "  but  we  have  one  thing  to  comfort 
us:  In  an  age  which  still  recognises  the  Vehmic^ 
Law  and  the  Judgment  of  God,  that  now  and  then 
takes  pleasure  in  burning  a  witch,  as  we  burn  the 
stubble  on  our  fields, — in  such  a  happy  age,  we  are 
not  the  only  ones  who  die  innocent.  We  did  not 
realise  the  blessing  of  living  between  the  Tarn  and 
the  Trasank  in  the  good  old  days.  To  think  of  our 
being  shut  in  here  like  fatted  sheep  before  slaugh- 
ter! But  groaning  and  grumbling  will  not  help  us. 
The  best  we  can  do  is  to  turn  our  backs  upon  the 
world  and  die  like  men!  " 

A  few  murmured  resentfully,  the  most  remained 
silent. 

"  Not  that  I  care  so  much  about  my  head!  " 
mused  Simon,  "  but  I  'm  sorry  on  account  of  my 
Han."  He  discovered  some  crude  writing  materials 
in  the  sacristan's  house,  with  which  he  wrote  the 
following  letter: 

"  My  darling  Han: 

"It  's  curious,  is  n't  it,  how  they  have  got  me 
after  all  ?  It  was  all  on  account  of  a  cow,  which  I 
was  keeping  in  the  tavern  barn.     Word  was  sent 

'  Vehmic  Law.  The  law  of  a  secret  society  in  Germany  during 
the  Middle  Ages,  which  for  a  time  held  powerful  sway  over  the 
people  by  its  horrible  executions. 


172  The  God  Seeker 

me  that  her  calf  had  arrived  and  that  I  was  to  come 
and  see  it.  As  I  was  not  busy,  and  it  being  Ad- 
vent, I  came.  It  's  a  nice  little  steer,  light  yellow, 
and  will  be  good  for  a  yoke.  All  of  a  sudden  the 
parsonage  caught  fire  and  I  ran  down  to  help  put  it 
out.  And  then  they  drove  us  into  the  church  and 
picked  out  twelve  of  us  to  be  beheaded.  To-day 
my  head  is  still  on  my  shoulders,  and  what  I  want 
to  write  to  thee,  dearest  sweetheart,  is  that  thou  art 
my  last  thought.  The  cow  and  the  calf  are  for  thee 
to  keep.  Weep  for  me  as  much  as  thou  wilt,  but  it 
will  do  no  good.  No  one  knows  better  than  thou 
that  I  am  innocent,  but  how  does  that  help  matters 
as  long  as  I  'm  caught  ?  If  beheaded  people  re- 
cover their  heads  in  heaven,  perhaps  we  shall  meet 
and  marry  yet. 

"  Thy  loving 

"  Simon  Haneser. 
"  P.  S. — When  it  will  happen,  I  don't  know;  but 
stay  at  home  and  don't  worry  about  it.     The  tav- 
ern-keeper's  wife    wants  the   milch-cow    until    the 
Feast  of  St.  Peter.     Let  her  have  it." 

The  narrator  relates  the  story  thus,  but  the  pre- 
sent generation  will  hardly  believe  that  at  that  time 
a  healthy  young  peasant  lad  could  take  leave  of  life 
m  this  cheerful  manner.  The  present  generation 
decries  the  world  with  every  breath,  at  the  same 
time  clinging  to  it  anxiously  with  all  its  might,  or, 
in  despair,  throwing  itself  under  its  crushing  wheels. 
It  did  not  occur  to  Simon  to  do  either  the  one  or 
the  other.     "  If  it  may  be,  live  merrily;  if  it  must 


The  Crime  1 73 

be,  die  merrily !  '  was  his  motto.  He  knew  little 
about  philosophy. 

Simon  had  hardly  finished  his  letter  when  a 
priest,  accompanied  by  soldiers,  entered,  bringing 
with  him  Extreme  Unction.  As  the  men  caught 
sight  of  the  chalice,  Firnerhans  exclaimed  ;  "  Away ! 
away!     We  know  your  chalice!  " 

The  priest  spoke  mild,  friendly  words  to  them, 
spoke  of  the  pardon  for  the  penitent,  of  the  rejoic- 
ing in  heaven  over  a  repentant  sinner. 

"  If  I  regret  anything,  it  is  that  I  did  n't  choke 
you  yesterday!  "  cried  one  of  the  men,  attempting 
to  spring  upon  the  priest  and  carry  out  his  design 
to-day.  The  soldiers  thrust  him  back  and  he  fell 
groaning  against  the  wall. 

Then  the  tinder  pedlar  crawled  up  to  the  priest, 
imploring  him  to  intercede  for  him  with  the  judges. 

"  Tell  them  that  their  Judgment  of  God  is  worth- 
less and  condemns  the  innocent,  the  same  to-day  as 
at  the  time  of  the  murder  of  the  letter  carrier  from 
Siebenbaum.  Among  those  beheaded  then  were 
all  kinds  of  people,  but  not  the  murderer.  If  the 
high  court  would  know  who  killed  the  letter  carrier, 
it  should  ask  me." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  them  do  it,"  laughed  Fir- 
nerhans. 

"You  are  pitiable  creatures,"  said  the  priest: 
"  you  blaspheme  against  Heaven,  Who  has  chosen 
you  to  expiate  this  crime.  If  God's  own  Son  did 
not  refuse  to  die  innocent  to  redeem  the  world,  why 
should  you  sinners  murmur  ?  " 

"  You,   holy    man,"   said    Firnerhans,  "  are  the 


15^4  The  God  Seeker 

substitute  of  God's  Son;  come  and  change  places 
with  me ;  the  death  of  a  priest  does  far  greater  serv- 
ice to  the  world  than  that  of  a  peasant." 

The  wood-cutter  from  the  Tarn  now  spoke :  "  This 
is  foolish  talk.  Let  each  one  die  for  himself,  and 
then  hold  his  tongue." 

In  the  church  tower  the  bells  were  tolling. 

"  Do  you  hear  ? "  said  the  priest.  "  Banish  your 
angry  thoughts,  fall  upon  your  knees  and  pray.  The 
bells  announce  the  hour." 

The  men  turned  deathly  pale. 

"  You,  martyrs,  shall  take  leave  of  this  world  to 
the  accompaniment  of  their  Christian  tones.  Then 
the  bells  shall  ring  no  more  in  Trawies.  The  Holy 
Church  has  pronounced  an  interdict  upon  this  par- 
ish, and  from  the  hour  of  your  last  breath,  Trawies 
is  placed  under  the  ban  !  " 


CHAPTER   XVI 

IT  is  impossible  to  describe  the  terror  which 
reigned  in  the  forests.  With  comparative  calm- 
ness we  may  witness  the  condemned  prisoners  in 
their  last  hour;  but  our  pen  quails  at  writing  of  the 
despair  of  their  wives,  sisters,  brothers,  and  child- 
ren. The  lamentations  were  heard  from  house  to 
house.  Suddenly  they  ceased,  like  a  tempest  that 
has  spent  its  force,  and  the  women  asked  each  other 
over  and  over  whether  it  were  true,  whether  it  could 
be  true.  And  when  it  was  confirmed  again  and 
again,  the  wail  of  anguish  burst  forth  anew. 

They  hastened  to  the  village  with  petitions  and 
prayers,  begging  to  be  allov/ed  to  see  their  dear  ones 
once  more.  Armed  with  knives  and  household  uten- 
sils, they  made  a  bold  attempt  to  burst  open  the 
prison  and  liberate  the  men,  but  they  were  greeted 
with  musket-balls.  Unhappy  folk,  you  do  not  un- 
derstand what  military  rule  signifies!  They  were 
thrown  to  the  ground  and  trampled  under  foot,  un- 
til at  last  they  were  made  to  comprehend  the  brutal 
force  which  was  so  mercilessly  rampant  in  Trawies. 
When,  finally,  they  were  overcome  with  weariness, 
when  their  throats  had  become  hoarse  and  their  eyes 
dry,  they  fell  back  benumbed  in  an  inertia  of  despair, 

175 


176  The  God  Seeker 

Bart-from-Tarn  was  in  a  most  unhappy  frame  of 
mind.  He  had  not  been  present  at  the  meeting  in 
the  parsonage,  although  he  had  meant  to  be.  He 
had  said  to  his  wife  that  very  day,  as  she  sat  chat- 
ting with  Mistress  Wahnfred  in  her  little  room, 
trying  to  distract  the  poor  woman  who  had  lost 
husband  and  home:  "  Wife,"  said  he,  "  I  am  go- 
ing down  to  Trawies." 

"  Again,"  she  replied,  "  right  in  the  middle  of  a 
working  day!  " 

"  They  are  to  meet  and  take  counsel;  there  is 
much  to  be  done  in  the  parish." 

He  put  on  his  broad  hat,  took  his  beech-wood 
stick  in  his  hand,  saying:  "  Keep  the  doors  locked, 
for  it  is  unsafe  now."     And  he  departed. 

Behind  the  house  in  the  sheep-yard  upon  a 
stump  projecting  out  of  the  snow  sat  little  Erie- 
fried,  Wahnfred's  son.  His  feet  dangled  over  the 
stump,  his  arms  were  folded,  and  he  was  gazing 
dreamily  into  the  distance.  He  was  no  longer 
merry,  as  was  his  wont;  he  had  no  occupation  now, 
and  he  often  asked  why  he  was  not  allowed  to  go  to 
school.  The  good  farm  people  had  their  own  work 
to  attend  to  and  did  not  understand  children.  His 
mother  sat  knitting  in  her  room,  weeping  silently. 
So  he  wandered  about  alone,  thinking  of  his  father. 
He  realised  that  something  unusual  must  have  hap- 
pened to  him,  but  whenever  he  attempted  to  ask 
concerning  him, — this  father  with  whom  he  had 
worked  so  happily  in  the  shop,  who  had  played  with 
him,  who  had  talked  with  him  about  so  many 
things,  who  had  been  so  affectionate  with  him,— 


The  Crime  177 

whenever  he  attempted  to  ask  the  question,  his  lips 
were  sealed.  He  suddenly  ceased  to  be  a  child. 
He  seemed  to  tremble  before  the  answer. 

When  Bart  saw  the  lad  sitting  alone  and  sorrow- 
ful on  this  dark  winter  day,  he  was  filled  with  a 
deep  pity  for  the  child. 

"  They  have  taken  thy  father  from  thee  and  now 
leave  thee  to  thyself.  Thou  little  dreamest  what  a 
sacrifice  thou,  innocent  child,  hast  been  obliged  to 
make  for  thy  home!  " 

Then  approaching  him,  Bart  called:  "  Little  boy, 
what  art  thou  doing  there  ?" 

Erlefried  sprang  down  from  the  stump,  hastening 
to  meet  his  new  protector. 

"  Look,  Erlefried,  we  will  set  up  another  saint  on 
this  stump  now.  Dost  thou  know  how  to  make 
snow-men  ? " 

He  nodded  assent,  but  said  that  he  did  not  care 
for  it. 

"  Nonsense!  "  said  Bart,  trying  to  cheer  him. 
"  Such  a  boy  as  thou,  and  not  care  for  it!  We  '11 
see  about  that.  Look,  how  well  the  snow  packs  to- 
day !  I  wonder  if  I  can  do  it  still.  I  was  once  a 
boy  like  thyself,  though  much  rougher.  I  used  to 
wrestle  with  the  other  lads  until  my  clothes  were 
in  tatters;  and  when  there  were  no  boys  at  hand,  I 
would  make  them  for  myself  out  of  snow;  regular 
giants,  and  horses  with  riders,  like  the  Turks.  And 
when  I  had  finished  the  whole  row,  I  would  fall 
upon  the  enemy  and  knock  off  their  heads.  See, 
here  's  one  already!  " 

While    chatting    thus,    Bart    had    made    a    very 


178  The  God  Seeker 

respectable  snow-man  upon  the  stump.  That  started 
Erlefried  and  he  soon  had  another  beside  it.  Then 
they  made  a  horse  with  a  rider  and  other  figures, 
one  large  one,  very  fine  to  look  upon.  Bart  laid 
special  stress  upon  long  noses,  but  this  seemed  to 
have  little  effect  upon  Erlefried,  who  paid  more  at- 
tention to  the  broad  chests  of  the  men  and  to  the 
erect,  well  poised  heads  of  the  horses.  He  grew 
more  and  more  eager  at  his  task;  his  cheeks  glowed 
and  his  eyes  sparkled. 

It  was  the  same  with  Bart.  At  first  playing  with 
the  cold  snow  simply  out  of  friendliness,  the  boyish 
passion  had  now  taken  possession  of  him.  The 
cheerful  white  figures  seemed  to  banish  all  the  seri- 
ous, gloomy  events  of  his  life ;  his  childhood,  bright 
and  joyous,  had  returned ;  the  snow-sword  of  the 
knight  and  the  comical  cap  of  the  bishop  reawak- 
ened all  his  youthful  enthusiasm  ;  the  snow  was  no 
longer  cold,  and  Bart,  whose  countenance  was  usu- 
ally so  serious,  had  glowing  cheeks  and  beaming 
eyes. 

Suddenly  his  wife  called  from  the  yard,  asking 
whether  that  were  the  council  in  Trawies. 

Sure  enough,  the  council!  Bart  had  stupidly  for- 
gotten all  about  it.  Now  it  was  too  late;  either 
the  people  had  already  assembled  and  would  be  just 
breaking  up  when  he  arrived,  or  tliey  had  not  met 
at  all,  in  which  case  his  going  would  not  bring  them 
together.  So  the  most  sensible  thing  would  be  to 
stay  at  home  with  Erlefried  and  knock  off  the  heads 
of  the  snow-men. 

A  little  at  one  side  away  from  the  other  figures, 


The  Crime  179 

almost  on  the  edge  of  the  forest,  the  boy  was  work- 
ing on  a  new  image.  It  was  larger  than  the  rest  and 
he  packed  the  snow  as  firmly  as  possible,  making  it 
as  high  as  his  hands  could  reach.  He  was  silent, 
but  industrious,  and  when  Bart  started  playfully  to 
knock  down  the  other  figures,  the  boy  placed  him- 
self protectingly  before  his  new  work  of  art,  saying 
in  a  pleading  tone:  "  Not  that  one!  " 

The  little  face  was  so  serious  and  the  request  so 
earnest  that  Bart  asked:  "  Why  not  that  particu- 
lar one?"  and  the  boy  replied:  "That  is  my 
father. 

Thus  Fate,  ever  mysterious,  plays  with  us ;  some- 
times approaching  us  warningly,  but  in  a  friendly 
way ;  while  in  another  place,  at  another  time,  it 
crushes  us,  relentlessly,  without  plan,  without 
mercy.  We  know  what  was  happening  that  day  in 
Trawies,  while  Bart-from-Tarn  and  the  boy  Erie- 
fried — Wahnfred's  son — were  making  and  destroy- 
ing snow-men  on  those  wintry  heights. 

On  the  Johannesberg,  in  Firnerhans'  house,  the 
events  were  of  quite  a  different  nature.  Firner- 
hans' wife,  when  she  learned  of  the  unheard-of  im- 
prisonment in  the  church,  broke  out  at  first  into 
expressions  of  anger  against  her  husband.  Why 
did  he  go  off  and  neglect  house  and  farm  ?  Why 
did  he  mix  himself  up  in  things  in  which  he  had  no 
concern  ?  Her  first  husband — she  had  had  two — 
never  troubled  himself  in  the  least  about  affairs  out- 
side, but  had  stayed  at  home  with  his  wife  and  be- 
come a  well-to-do  man.     The  money  that  the  first 


i8o  The  God  Seeker 

had  amassed  the  second  had  spent.  To  be  sure, 
the  people  never  seemed  to  care  for  the  first  one, 
but  the  second  they  had  tried  to  push  ahead  every- 
where, wherever  they  could  make  a  cat's  paw  of 
him.  The  third  would  probably  not  be  his  equal  in 
good-nature.  It  was  all  terrible!  And  then  she 
began  to  weep  as  bitterly  as  if  there  had  never  been 
a  first  and  as  if  there  were  no  hope  of  a  third. 

At  midnight  Osel  returned  home.  He  had  ling- 
ered on  the  way  showing  his  black  kernel  to  every- 
one he  met.  Few  had  any  idea  what  a  fatal  thing 
it  was,  attributing  the  pleasure  which  he  seemed  to 
take  in  it  to  his  half-witted  brain.  But  when  he 
met  Roderich,  the  tramp,  who  already  knew  the 
facts,  and  who  to-day  wore  a  sarcastic  expression  on 
his  usually  serious  face,  the  latter  said : 

"  No,  my  dear  Osel,  you  cannot  go  home  with 
this  little  ball ;  you  belong  to  the  twelve  and  must 
be  beheaded." 

Osel  nodded  joyfully  with  his  three  heads.  Then 
he  asked  when  the  execution  was  to  take  place. 

"  To-morrow,  but  you  must  get  up  early  or  you 
will  be  too  late.     They  will  not  wait  for  you." 

Osel  seemed  to  consider  a  moment,  then  pro- 
ceeded on  his  way.  It  was  midnight  before  he  went 
to  bed,  but  he  left  his  door  open  that  the  first 
sound  in  the  house  might  waken  him.  Then  he 
slept  such  a  sleep  as  a  criminal  seldom  enjoys. 

In  the  morning  he  was  awake  with  the  cocks.  He 
rose  hastily  and  the  people  wondered  to  see  him 
standing  so  early  at  the  trough,  washing  himself  in- 
dustriously. 


The  Crime  i8i 

"  He  's  going  to  church  to  pray  for  Firnerhans; 
he  's  a  good  fellow,"  they  thought. 

Osel  was  a  youth  of  twenty,  but  looked  younger, 
and  to-day  his  face  beamed  as  though  he  were 
going  to  a  wedding.  He  dressed  himself  in  his  holi- 
day attire,  with  the  red  waistcoat  and  yellow  ker- 
chief; his  blonde  hair,  usually  a  dry,  tumbled  mass, 
was  to-day  combed  smoothly  down  over  his  light 
eyebrows  and  lashes,  from  under  which  his  eyes 
now  sparkled  with  unusual  expression.  He  had 
picked  a  pink  in  the  garden  and  fastened  it  on  his 
hat,  as  is  customary  on  Corpus  Christi  Day.  Then, 
entering  the  house,  he  devoured  his  morning  por- 
ridge. When  he  had  finished  he  stood  a  while  at 
the  door  as  though  thinking.  He  seemed  to  be  try- 
ing to  decide  how  he  should  best  take  leave  of  his 
friends,  but  being  unable  to  do  this,  he  slipped 
quietly  away. 

He  descended  the  mountain  towards  the  Johan- 
nes brook.  Above  the  Kofel  forest  gleamed  the 
spire  of  the  church.  Before  reaching  the  Trach  he 
discovered  a  squirrel  in  the  branches  of  a  pine-tree. 
He  stopped,  and  with  a  blank  expression  on  his 
face,  turned  into  a  side  path  in  pursuit  of  the  little 
creature  and  was  soon  lost  in  the  forest. 

In  the  valley  shots  were  heard  that  morning;  to- 
wards noon  all  was  still  again.  The  sun  had  gradu- 
ally disappeared  and  the  sky  was  covered  with  soft 
grey  clouds.  In  the  afternoon  these  grew  denser 
and  the  deep  shadows  of  the  wooded  hills  were 
sharply  outlined,  until  at  last,  slowly,  and  one  by 
one,  a  few  flakes  whirled  in  the  air. 


1 82  The  God  Seeker 

Since  early  that  morning  soldiers  had  been  going 
from  house  to  house,  searching  the  chests  for  spun 
yarn,  taking  the  spools  from  the  spinning-wheels 
and  removing  the  distaffs.  They  then  announced 
that  the  people  of  Trawies  were  ordered  to  assemble 
at  the  Dreiwand  in  the  afternoon.  The  Dreiwand 
rose  perpendicularly  out  of  the  water,  a  short  dis- 
tance below  the  church,  where  the  Rocken  brook 
flowed  into  the  Trach,  forming  here  a  deep,  dark, 
slimy  pool.  About  it  flourished  a  thick  growth  of 
pines,  casting  at  all  times  a  gloom  over  this  spot. 
Only  in  midsummer  a  few  rays  of  sunshine  pene- 
trated into  the  gorge  at  noon,  covering  it  with  a 
soft,  misty  veil  of  blue. 

Below  the  Dreiwand,  whose  high  breastwork  was 
formed  by  three  rocky  projections,  resembling  bal- 
conies, the  road  from  the  Trasank  valley  and  the 
Rockenberg  crossed  a  bridge,  then  turned  into  a 
narrow  path  on  this  side  of  the  water  opposite  the 
cliff,  thus  connecting  the  outlying  regions  with 
Trawies.  It  is  the  same  now  as  on  that  fatal  day, 
when  on  this  spot  the  doom  of  Trawies  was  sealed. 
'^  Soon  after  noon  the  people  began  to  assemble, 
stationing  themselves  along  the  road  and  under  the 
cliff  opposite  the  precipice.  There  were  some  pre- 
sent who,  regardless  of  warnings  of  danger,  out  of 
curiosity  could  not  refrain  from  coming  to  learn  how 
this  affair  was  to  end.  Some  had  come  with  the 
intention  of  inciting  the  crowd  to  action;  others, 
with  the  hope  of  appeasing  it.  It  might  be  merely 
a  question  of  arriving  at  some  agreement  with  the 
authorities  and  Trawies  would  thus  be  saved  from  a 


The  Crime  183 

further  blow.  Soldiers  were  watching  every  move- 
ment of  the  crowd. 

The  people,  not  daring  to  utter  a  word  aloud, 
whispered  all  the  more  defiantly.  Those  standing 
under  the  cliff  could  see  the  church  and  the  ruins  of 
the  parsonage. 

From  this  direction,  to  the  mournful  tolling  of 
bells,  a  procession  of  black-robed  figures,  bearing 
three  torches,  now  approached.  They  passed  be- 
hind the  crag  and  appeared  on  the  first  projecting 
rock,  high  above  the  water.  They  were  the  priests 
and  judges.  The  torches,  carried  by  three  aged 
men,  cast  a  dim,  red  light  into  the  gorge,  and  from 
the  darkening  sky  fell  the  trembling  snow-flakes. 

A  deep  silence  reigned.  From  among  the  men 
upon  the  crag.  Pater  Dominicus  now  advanced, 
holding  in  his  hand  a  long,  black  wand  surmounted 
by  a  cross.  Turning  towards  the  people,  and  with 
a  loud  voice,  he  said :    >• 

"  Hear  ye,  the  Lord  speaks  through  His  prophets: 
Ye  are  stubborn  and  unrepentant;  ye  are  the  tree 
that  dies,  the  flesh  that  decays.  Cursed  be  your 
seed.  Your  land  shall  become  desolate;  fire  shall 
destroy  your  harvests ;  upon  your  fields,  which  ye 
have  watered  with  your  sweat,  shall  grow  weeds 
and  poisonous  plants;  I  will  send  a  pestilence 
among  you  and  ye  shall  be  delivered  into  the  hand 
of  the  enemy.  Brother  shall  slay  brother  and  I  will 
smite  you  with  madness.  Ye  shall  call  upon  My 
name  in  vain;  ye  shall  pray  to  Me,  but  I  will  cast 
you  forth  from  My  footstool,  for  ye  have  despised 
the  name  of  the  Lord  and  have  killed  His  servant!  " 


184  The  God  Seeker 

"  Oh,  it  is  only  a  sermon!  "  murmured  one  of  the 
audience. 

The  priest  now  took  a  roll  of  manuscript  in  his 
hand,  saying:  "  In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity!  " 
Then  with  a  loud,  solemn  voice,  he  repeated  the 
following  words : 

"  Parish  of  Trawies !  From  this  hour  on  shall  you 
be  outcasts!  You  have  broken  the  laws  of  the 
Church  and  of  the  Emperor;  you  are  stubborn  and 
unrepentant;  you  have  murdered  your  priest, 
therefore  shall  you  have  no  priest !  You  have  de- 
secrated the  altar  of  your  God,  so  shall  weeds  grow 
upon  it  and  ravens  shall  inhabit  your  temple.  The 
tongues  shall  be  torn  from  the  bells  upon  the  tower ; 
your  children  shall  be  baptised  with  the  rain  from 
heaven,  and  the  sacrament  of  marriage  withheld  from 
the  bridal  pair,  the  holy  communion  from  the  dy- 
ing, the  consecrated  earth  from  the  dead.  Even 
as  the  rebellious  spirits  were  cast  out  of  heaven  by 
the  archangel  Michael,  so  shall  you,  parish  of 
Trawies,  be  cast  out  from  the  holy  peace  of  God's 
kingdom.  You  are  devoid  of  honour  and  shall  be 
deprived  of  all  Christian  intercourse;  you  wished 
for  freedom,  you  shall  be  as  free  as  the  birds  in  the 
air,  as  the  wolf  in  the  forest.  Whosoever  harbours 
one  of  your  community  in  his  house  shall  himself 
forfeit  the  protection  of  the  law;  whosoever  kills 
one  of  your  community  shall  be  exempt  from  the  law. 
Your  boundaries  shall  be  cut  off  and  surrounded 
by  a  belt  of  fire.  You  shall  be  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  the  Prince  of  Darkness,  who  shall  have  you 
in  his  power  so  long  as  you  remain  unrepentant !  " 


The  Crime  185 

y 

He  ceased  speaking.  The  bells  were  also  silent. 
During  the  anathema,  the  audience,  at  first  in  a 
mocking  mood,  had,  one  by  one,  grown  deathly- 
pale.  But  there  were  some  among  them  who 
gnashed  their  teeth  and  clenched  their  fists.  Like 
a  living  statue  the  dark  figure  of  the  priest  towered 
yonder  on  the  crag,  illuminated  by  the  three 
torches,  which  cast  their  shadows  far  over  the  cliff. 
Raising  aloft  the  black  wand  with  the  cross,  he 
cried : 

"  Annulled  shall  be  your  rights  to  the  cross  of 
our  Redeemer!  "  and  breaking  it  in  twain  he  hurled 
the  pieces  into  the  river.  Then,  with  a  firm  grasp, 
he  seized  one  of  the  torches:  "  Annulled  shall  be 
your  rights  to  the  protection  of  God  the  Father!  " 
and  he  flung  the  flickering  taper  into  the  water. 
"  Annulled  shall  be  your  rights  to  the  love  of  the 
Son  of  God !  "  and  he  threw  the  second  torch  from 
him.  At  last,  seizing  the  third  torch,  he  shrieked: 
"  Annulled  shall  be  your  rights  to  the  grace  of  God 
and  to  the  Holy  Ghost!  "  and  he  cast  the  burning 
taper  into  the  abyss,  where  all  three  were  extin- 
guished with  a  hissing  sound. 

A  wild  excitement  now  took  possession  of  the  as- 
sembled crowd  and  many  of  the  women  threw  them- 
selves upon  the  ground  wailing  and  crying:  "  Now 
it  is  over  with  us,  our  heaven  is  gone!  Never  shall 
we  see  our  dear  ones  again !  We  are  damned  to  the 
lowest  depths  of  hell !     It  is  all  over  for  ever!  " 

Such  pitiful  weeping  and  lamentation  as  now 
arose  in  this  mountain  gorge  were  never  heard  be- 
fore.    Parents  cursed  their  children   and   children 


1 86  The  God  Seeker 

their  parents,  and  they  raved  as  the  Scripture  tells 
us  lost  souls  shall  rave  at  the  last  judgment.  /^ 

When  twilight  was  gathering  and  the  outlawed 
folk  were  hastening  in  confusion  up  and  down  the 
Trach,  many  with  the  feeling  that  their  poor  souls 
had  been  torn  from  their  bodies,  many  nearly  in- 
sane, and  again  others  who  sneered  and  jested,  a 
second  procession  started  from  the  church.  By  the 
light  of  lanterns  and  torches,  the  priests  were  sol- 
emnly carrying  away  the  monstrance  with  the  Host. 
On  both  sides  of  the  road  the  trees  bent  with  the 
heavy  weight  of  snow;  jays  and  yellow-hammers 
fluttered  over  the  heads  of  the  priests,  as  though 
wishing  to  act  as  escorts  to  the  sacred  body  of  our 

Lord. 

"  And  now  my  Jesus  is  going!  "  cried  a  woman 
in  the  crowd,  springing  forward  and  falling  prostrate 
before  the  procession.  "  Thou  shalt  not  leave  me! 
My  child  at  home  is  dying!  " 

Silently  and  solemnly  they  passed  the  weeping 
woman.  Suddenly  grown  speechless,  she  stared 
after  the  retreating  forms  with  her  fixed  eyes,  in 
which  the  light  of  the  swaying  torches  was  reflected. 

Not  far  from  the  place  where  the  Johannes  brook 
flowed  into  the  river,  the  procession  was  met  by 
Uli,  the  charcoal-burner,  and  Roderich,  the  tramp. 
They  had  already  seen  from  a  distance  a  piece  of  one 
of  the  torches  floating  in  the  Trach,  without  under- 
standing its  meaning.  As  they  now  saw  the  ap- 
proaching line  of  figures,  they  questioned  each  other. 

"  What  are  those  lights  coming  towards  us  ?  " 

"  They  are  probably  carrying  the  dead  priest  to 


The  Crime  187 

Oberkloster,"  said  the  tramp,  "  and  they  are  quite 
right ;  here  in  our  churchyard  he  would  give  us  no 
peace." 

"  His  ghost  will  wander  about  for  a  long  time  yet 
in  Trawies,  you  mark  my  v/ords. " 

"  Look,  that  's  like  a  Corpus  Christi  procession! 
They  are  carrying  the  sacred  Host  away  with 
them." 

"  Can  it  be  true,  what  I  heard  to-day  ?  " 

"  They  are  taking  the  sacrament  from  us  and 
have  closed  the  church." 

"  It  's  all  the  same  to  me,  if  I  'm  only  on  this 
side  of  the  door." 

"  And  have  outlawed  us  all." 

"  'T  is  the  same  to  me,"  said  Roderich,  the 
tramp,  again.  "  You,  Uli,  have  got  something; 
you  've  a  house  and  wife  and  three  children  and  a 
goat — I  can  see  how  such  a  thing  would  affect  you. 
But  we  free  folk,  who  have  so  arranged  our  affairs 
that  no  one  can  take  anything  away  from  us,  be- 
cause we  've  nothing  to  lose,  we  can  laugh  now." 

"  But  think,  my  dear  Roderich,  we  belong  to  the 
devil!" 

"  Later,"  hissed  the  tramp  into  the  charcoal- 
burner's  ear,  "  later,  there  '11  be  money  for  us!  The 
devil,  I  tell  you,  demands  nothing  without  pay. 
Brother,  I  'm  a  happy  man  again!  " 

In  the  meantime  the  procession  had  passed.  In 
solemn  dignity  it  moved  along  the  banks  of  the 
roaring  Trach  towards  the  Gestade.  After  the 
priests  and  judges  had  walked  for  more  than  three 
hours  with  the  sacrament,  they  passed  through  the 


1 88  The  God  Seeker 

last  gorge,  where  the  Trach  foams  in  a  deep,  dark 
basin  and  a  difficult  path  ascends  along  the  cliffs  to- 
wards the  summit,  upon  which,  at  that  time,  stood 
a  group  of  five  pine-trees.  At  this  point  the  heath- 
land  begins.  Under  these  trees  they  stopped  to 
rest  their  sacred  burden  upon  a  stone,  falling  on 
their  knees  in  adoration  before  it. 

Behind  them  followed  a  troop  of  soldiers,  who, 
when  they  reached  the  narrow  path  along  the  in- 
hospitable cliff,  boldly  crossed  the  little  bridge, 
which  they  then  destroyed  together  with  its  stone 
foundation,  sending  it  crashing  into  the  abyss  be- 
low. When  the  last  link  with  Trawies  had  been 
broken,  with  boughs  from  the  pine-trees  they 
lighted  fires  on  the  boundary  line,  stretching  a 
cord  from  stone  to  stone  and  from  tree  to  tree. 
The  pines  seemed  to  groan  as  they  felt  it  tightening 
about  them, — this  cord,  made  from  the  hemp 
grown  in  the  valley  of  the  Trach,  and  spun  from 
the  distaffs  in  the  houses  of  Trawies. 

The  confusion  in  the  little  village  continued. 
The  tavern  alone  remained  undisturbed  by  all  this 
misery.  To  be  sure,  the  women,  even  there,  were 
sobbing  in  the  kitchen,  but  in  another  room  the 
men  were  drinking.  Before  the  door,  his  hands 
thrust  into  his  pockets,  stood  the  "  Three-Headed 
Osel,"  staring  first  at  the  house,  then  wonderingly 
up  towards  the  church  and  out  into  the  darkness. 
When,  then,  was  the  execution  to  take  place  ?  He 
had  been  ready  half  the  day,  and  nowhere  could  he 
find  signs  that  such  a  thing  was  to  happen.     The 


The  Crime  189 

pbbt  lad  kept  showing  his  black  kernel  to  prove 
that  it  gave  him  certain  rights,  but  no  one  paid  heed 
to  him  and  he  was  left  to  himself. 

From  the  church  windows  gleamed  a  light,  too 
bright  to  come  from  the  altar  lamp.  In  the  church- 
yard a  new  grave  had  been  dug,  in  which  had  been 
laid  a  body  with  a  fractured  skull.  The  cross  for- 
merly towering  in  the  midst  of  the  burial-ground 
lay  in  ruins  upon  the  snow.  And  over  all  reigned 
a  deep  silence. 

The  sacristan  now  approached  the  church.  On 
the  evening  of  the  revolt,  at  sight  of  the  parsonage 
in  flames,  he  had  fled  in  the  direction  of  the  Tra- 
sank.  He  had  wandered  about  aimlessly  for  days, 
but  now  believing  that  order  would  surely  be  re- 
stored once  more,  he  returned  over  the  pathless 
wilderness,  descending  by  way  of  the  Wildwiese. 

The  first  duty  of  an  honest  sacristan  is  his  church. 
From  the  light  in  the  windows  he  supposed  that  a 
service  must  be  taking  place  there.  Opening  the 
door,  he  observed  that  the  benches  were  empty. 
The  stillness  was  awful,  and  at  the  altar  candles 
were  burning.  He  entered,  but  soon  rushed  out 
again,  his  arms  outstretched,  his  face  ghastly  pale, 
his  features  contorted  with  horror,  his  burning  lips 
unable  to  utter  a  sound.  Thus  he  hastened  down 
to  the  village  and  burst  into  the  tavern,  sighing, 
groaning,  and  wringing  his  hands,  and  pointing  to- 
wards the  church. 

The  people  crowded  about  him.  "  He  has  just 
discovered  that  our  altar  has  been  plundered,"  said 
one. 


iQO  The  God  Seeker 

But  the  sacristan  stretched  out  both  arms  and, 
stammering  unintelh'gible  words,  stared  at  the  floor 
with  his  rolling  eyes,  and  again  pointing  towards 
the  church,  with  a  cry  of  terror  he  buried  his  face 
in  his  hands. 

The  people  then  left  the  house  and  ascended  the 
hill  to  the  church.  On  the  altar,  about  the  empty 
tabernacle,  the  candles  were  still  burning,  and  on 
the  bloody  steps— lay  the  headless  bodies  of  the 
condemned. 

At  the  same  hour,  innumerable  points  of  light,  on 
the  summit  of  the  Trasank  and  on  the  boundary 
hills  at  the  heathland,  shed  their  rays  over  the  for- 
ests of  the  Firn,  the  Tarn,  and  the  Ritscher,  down 
into  Trawies.  They  were  the  signal  fires,  shutting 
in  and  marking  the  crushed  and  outcast  forest  par- 
ish, a  flaming  barrier,  separating  it  from  God  and 
man;  a  link  of  the  fiery  chain  "  which  enfetters  the 
dragon." 

Thus  were  the  symbols  of  the  interdict  fulfilled! 


BOOK  II 
GODLESS 


191 


CHAPTER   I 

DURING  this  eventful  time,  little  Erlefried,  in 
his  childlike  simplicity,  climbed  the  hill  one 
morning  to  the  church  in  Trawies.  He  was  carry- 
ing a  greeting  to  the  Christ  Child,  in  anticipation 
of  the  coming  Christmas  festival.  He  was  dressed 
in  holiday  attire,  which  harmonised  with  his  whole 
frame  of  mind ;  his  fresh  young  body  exulted  in  the 
physical  exercise  and  he  felt  that  it  was  good  to  be 
alive ;  his  soul,  filled  with  the  joys  of  his  religious 
faith,  soared,  as  only  the  soul  of  a  forest  child  can 
soar,  even  unto  the  Eternal  Throne. 

He  had  been  kept  in  ignorance  of  all  that  which  had 
taken  place — he  was  still  untouched  by  the  curse. 
He  knew  well  that  something  unusual  had  happened 
concerning  his  father;  and  his  tender  young  heart 
was  anxious;  but  having  been  taught  the  efificacy 
of  prayer,  he  longed  to  pray.  As  he  approached 
the  village,  the  bells  did  not  greet  him  as  usual,  and 
on  reaching  the  church,  he  was  alarmed  and  terri- 
fied. Before  the  door  stood  a  soldier  with  un- 
sheathed sword  and  two  men  were  walling  up  the 
entrance. 

"  Oh,  child,"  murmured  one  of  the  workmen, 
*'  thou  wouldst  say  thy  prayers  and  we  no  longer 

193 


194  The  God  Seeker 

have  a  God.  He  has  deserted  us  all  and  His  temple 
has  become  a  sepulchre  for  murderers." 

The  speaker  was  reminded  by  the  soldier  that  he 
was  there  to  work,  not  to  chatter. 

Erlefried  crept  silently  away,  but  meeting  Sand- 
hok  soon  afterwards,  he  received  from  him  a  partial 
explanation. 

"  Art  thou  looking  for  something,  my  lad  ? " 

"  I  am  looking  for  my  God,"  sobbed  the  boy. 

"  Oh,  thou  little  simpleton!  Didst  thou  not 
know,  then,  that  a  few  days  ago  they  drowned  the 
Trinity  in  the  Trach  ?  Let  us  be  glad  of  it,  for 
now  we  are  free!  " 

Sadly  Erlefried  started  on  his  homeward  path, 
the  very  ground  seeming  to  tremble  under  him,  for 
how  could  anything  stand  firm  if  all  support  were 
taken  away  ?  Oh,  if  he  could  only  get  safely  home 
to  his  mother  and  the  good  Bart. 

On  the  way  he  met  the  peasant  Isidor,  who  was 
more  explicit.  Yes,  it  was  true,  the  people  of 
Trawies  were  without  a  God. 

On  the  Freiwildhohe,  under  two  old  beech-trees, 
stretching  their  bare  branches  out  into  the  blue, 
winter  sky,  stood  an  image  of  the  Virgin.  The 
boy  climbing  the  path  longed  in  his  anguish  of 
heart  to  pray  before  it, — for  if  our  God  is  taken 
from  us,  must  we  not  depend  upon  our  Beloved 
Lady  ?  All  was  quiet,  not  a  sound  in  the  valley, 
not  a  bird-note  in  the  trees,  and  as  Erlefried  knelt 
upon  the  bare  stone,  he  could  hear  the  beating  of 
the  Virgin's  heart.  Trembling  for  joy  he  rose,  and, 
kissing  the  wooden  image,  now  alive,  he  hastened 


Godless  195 

away.  Happily  for  the  child,  there  was  no  one 
present  to  tell  him  that  a  wood-beetle  was  boring 
into  the  wood. 

As  he  wandered  over  the  forest  path  he  was  un- 
able to  think  of  anything  but  that  Trawies  had  lost 
its  God,  and  that  there  could  be  no  more  heaven. 
Catching  sight  of  a  deer  through  the  branches,  it 
suddenly  occurred  to  him:  "  What  will  happen  to 
poachers  now  ?  It  will  be  all  the  better  for  them, 
for  they  will  not  be  discovered."  A  squirrel  was 
running  up  a  tree,  and  from  the  topmost  boughs  it 
looked  down,  almost  scornfully,  at  the  boy,  as 
though  it  would  say:  "  Poor  wretch,  at  present 
thou  art  no  more  fortunate  than  I !  You  sons  of 
God,  who  have  always  reproached  us  for  having  no 
Saviour  and  for  leading  such  a  pitiable  life  (and 
even  that  you  have  tried  to  take  from  us),  now  we 
are  as  well  off  as  you — but  I  can  climb  faster." 

The  boy  then  listened  to  the  splashing  of  the 
forest  brook ;  how  often  had  he  heard  it  before,  but 
to-day  everything  frightened  him  and  made  him 
nervous.  To  be  sure,  the  sun  was  still  shining, 
although  no  longer  with  the  same  brilliancy;  the 
shadows  were  lying  ghost-like  across  the  path.  He 
heard  the  thundering  of  a  distant  avalanche  and  the 
crashing  of  falling  trees.  There  was  no  longer  an 
Almighty  Hand  to  protect  him  from  danger. 

As  he  was  crossing  the  high  bridge  over  the  gorge 
he  stopped  in  the  middle  and  gazed  down  into  the 
abyss.  His  eyes  were  riveted  to  the  gloomy  depths, 
— for  must  he  not  now  forego  his  heavenward 
glance  ?    The  bridge  seemed  to  be  turning,  but  one 


19^  The  God  Seeker 

or  two  timely  leaps  saved  him  before  he  was  ovei  < 
come  with  dizziness.  When  he  finally  reached 
Bart's  old  mountain  home  he  was  quite  exhausted. 

He   noticed  how  pale  his  mother's  cheeks    were 
and  how  patiently  she  was  bearing  her  earthly  sor- 
rows, for  was  she  not  hoping  to  go  at  last  to  the 
dear  God  ?     And   everything  depended   upon   the 
dear  God.     She  did  not  know  what  Erlefried  knew. 
Why  dost  thou   not  eat  thy  soup,  my  boy  ?  " 
asked  the  mother,  noticing  that  he  left  it  untasted. 
As  he  made  no  reply,  she  added:  "  And  why  art 
thou  so  quiet  to-day  ?  "     Then  he  began  to  sob. 
Child,  what  has  happened  to  thee  ? " 
Mother,"  answered  the  lad,  burying  his  curly 
head  in  her  bosom,  "  I  know  something  terrible." 

"  About  thy  father  ? "  asked  the  woman. 

"  Something  quite  different — I  cannot  say  how 
terrible!" 

"  Compose  thyself,  Erlefried,  then  tell  me  what 
has  happened." 

"  There  is  no — "  sobbed  the  boy — "  there  is  no 
God!"  Overcome  with  horror,  he  hid  his  face  in 
his  mother's  dress. 

Drawing  herself  erect,  she  said  calmly:  "  Who 
could  have  been  so  stupid  as  to  tell  thee  that  ? 
Who  can  deny  a  thing  that  has  been  a  certainty 
from  everlasting  to  everlasting  and  cannot  be  other- 
wise  ? 

"  There  is  a  God  ?  There  is  ?  "  asked  the  boy 
joyfully. 

"  Thou   knowest    it,    for    art    thou    not    alive  ? 
Heaven  and  earth  are  His  body." 


Godless  197 

And  then  the  mother  began,  partly  to  distract  her 
own  anxious  thoughts,  partly  to  cheer  the  unhappy 
boy,  to  tell  him  of  God  and  heaven,  which  she  did 
in  a  manner  original  with  herself. 

''  Heaven  is  like  the  church,  my  child,  only  a 
thousand  times  more  beautiful.  Thou  couldst  never 
count  the  lighted  candles,  or  the  angels  flying 
about.  Sitting  upon  golden  clouds  in  front  is  the 
Holy  Trinity  and  close  by  our  Beloved  Lady;  next 
are  the  apostles  and  martyrs  and  all  the  saints, 
clothed  in  snowy  raiment,  with  palms  in  their 
hands,  singing  the  heavenly  songs  to  the  music  of 
David's  harp.  Then  come  the  blessed  dead;  thy 
grandparents  are  also  there  and  all  our  friends  who 
have  died.  They  have  entered  eternal  bliss,  yet  their 
eyes  are  wet  with  tears,  for  one  sorrow  mars  their 
joy:  the  knowledge  that  we  are  still  suffering  and  in 
danger.  They  are  all  keeping  vacant  seats  at  their 
sides  for  their  loved  ones  on  earth.  Now,  Erlefried, 
think  of  a  mother,  waiting  in  heaven  for  her  dear 
child.  One  by  one  the  places  are  filled,  but  the 
seat  beside  her  remains  empty  and  her  child  does 
not  come,  although  his  life  must  long  since  have 
ended.  At  last  in  her  anxiety  she  rises  and  goes  to 
the  dear  God,  who  asks:  '  Why  weepest  thou  ?' 
And  she  tells  Him  that  she  can  find  no  peace  and 
would  fain  leave  heaven  to  go  and  search  upon  the 
earth  until  she  has  found  her  boy.  Therefore,  my 
dear  son,  knowing  ourselves  and  our  loved  ones 
saved  from  evil  is  eternal  bliss!  When  I  am  no 
longer  with  thee,  remember  that,  and  do  not  forget 
me!" 


19^  The  God  Seeker 

Erlefried  wiped  the  tears  from  his  eyes  with  the 
sleeve  of  his  coat,  then  turning  to  his  mother,  he 
said  that  if  God  would  only  leave  the  stars  in  the 
sky,  he  would  surely  find  some  way  to  heaven. 

Good  child !  There  are  many  stars,  but  they  are 
not  all  in  the  sky. 


CHAPTER  II 

WINTER  reigns  in  the  mountain  forests.  Al- 
though the  Germans  dearly  love  the  melo- 
dious, blossoming  spring,  they  are  happier  in  the 
midst  of  a  long,  cold  winter.  The  earth,  still  and 
sombre,  seems  to  have  fallen  from  the  sky  —  the 
cool,  frozen  Nifelheim.^  The  wide  stretch  of 
meadow-land,  usually  covered  with  plant  life,  with 
streams,  hillocks,  and  rocks,  is  now  one  even  plain 
under  its  thick  blanket  of  snow.  And  the  knotty 
branches  of  the  northern  trees,  the  pines,  larches, 
and  firs,  which  at  other  seasons  extend  as  if  in  bless- 
ing over  the  earth,  whose  flowers  and  fruits  re- 
appear each  spring  to  gladden  the  heart  of  man, 
bend  under  their  burden  of  snow. 

At  first  the  branches  toy  with  the  falling  flakes, 
light  as  pollen,  and  rejoice  when  the  flying  wander- 
ers settle  upon  their  needles,  as  the  gay  butterflies 
have  done  during  the  warm,  sunny  days.  And  they 
gently  rock  their  little  guests  until  others,  attracted 
by  the  pleasant  motion,  join  the  first,  clinging  more 
and  more  firmly  to  the  needles,  in  which  they  build 
a  downy  nest,  that  extends  from  twig  to  twig ;  soft 

*  Nifelheim  :  The  mist  world,  the   realm  of  cold   and   darkness 
(Norse  Mythology). 

199 


200  The  God  Seeker 

and  dainty  as  a  cushion,  but  heavy  as  sand,  it  bends 
and  forces  the  boughs  downward  with  its  weight. 
Thus  the  trees  now  stand  enfettered  in  their  white 
bonds,  but  proud  and  defiant  withal,  like  true  sons 
of  the  northern  forest;  and  although  seeming  in- 
different to  their  heavy  ermine  mantles,  they  ap- 
preciate the  warmth  and  realise  the  new  dignity  of 
their  appearance. 

Bordering  the  meadows  stand  the  other  trees,  the 
sturdy  maples,  the  smooth,  delicate  beeches,  and 
the  bushy  oaks,  proud  as  peacocks,  believing  that 
they  have  a  lease  of  all  German  land.  But  they 
come  from  the  Slavic  forests,  where  bears  and 
boars  abound.  Back  to  the  boars  on  your  moors! 
We,  the  pines,  are  children  of  German  soil,  de- 
scended from  the  rugged  Alps.  Yonder  on  the  edge 
of  the  forest  stands  an  ash-tree,  the  origin  of  which 
is  uncertain;  but  the  legend  is  extant  that  from  out 
the  mouldy  interior  of  the  primeval  ash  emerged 
the  human  race,  crawling  upon  the  ground  like 
worms.  During  the  summer,  however,  the  decidu- 
ous trees  with  their  feathery  foliage  are  beautiful  to 
look  upon,  and  in  the  autumn,  when  the  forest  is 
preparing  for  its  holy  winter  rest,  these  trees  make 
one  more  magnificent  display  in  their  gorgeous  robes 
of  red  and  gold.  Oh,  the  coxcombs!  But  that  is 
their  last  chance  for  ostentation.  The  first  breath 
of  winter  destroys  all  their  splendour;  and  how  un- 
lovely are  the  dry,  bare  branches,  bending  and 
swaying  in  the  wind,  until  they  receive  their  cover- 
ing of  snow.  The  flakes  flutter  tauntingly  about 
the  pitiable  skeletons,  where  even  a  weary  sparrow 


Godless  20 1 

Will  rest  but  a  moment.  The  trees  stand  there  in 
their  misery,  proving  how  helpfess  and  foreign  they 
are  in  the  German  forests.  In  the  presence  of 
these  wretched  creatures,  the  pines,  in  their  er- 
mines, may  be  pardoned  for  their  pride. 

Yonder  is  a  little  hillock,  topped  with  a  dome, 
under  which  a  young  pine  is  dreaming  of  a  midwin- 
ter day  in  the  distant  future  when  it  may  leave  its 
snowy  bed  to  delight  children's  hearts  with  its 
brightly  illuminated  branches.  For  there  comes  a 
time  in  German  lands  when,  like  stars  gliding  down 
through  the  wintry  mists,  moving  torches  appear  at 
night,  carried  from  mountain  and  valley  to  the 
church,  to  celebrate  the  birth  of  our  Lord, — as  the 
coming  of  the  spring  is  celebrated  by  the  arrival  of 
the  birds  from  the  sunny  south. 

And  thus  the  endless  covering  of  snow  is  spread 
over  forest  and  meadow,  and  the  pines  stand,  with 
their  countless  white  spires  and  turrets,  like  a  great 
Gothic  cathedral.  Over  the  valleys  hangs  a  grey 
mist,  but  high  above  gleams  the  wide  circle  of  rug- 
ged mountains;  to-day  it  is  not  their  rocky  sides 
that  glitter  in  the  sunlight,  but  the  snow  still  cling- 
ing to  the  steepest  precipices, —  the  snow  which 
to-morrow  Odin^s  breath  will  loosen  and  send  thun- 
dering into  the  abyss  below. 

"  Winter's  shroud  "  is  a  name  invented  by 
thoughtless  man.  Has  no  one  ever  yet  experienced 
how  refreshing,  how  inspiring,  how  life-giving,  how 
comforting  and  cheering  is  a  walk  through  a  wintry 
landscape  ?  Has  no  one  inhaled  the  cool  breath  of 
the   falling  flakes,   that  enter  our  very  being   and 


502  The  God  Seeker 

soothe  our  nerves,  and  is  purer  than  the  breath  of 
summer  leaves  or  the  fragrance  of  blossoms  ?  Has 
no  one  been  sensible  of  the  sweet  repose  in  which 
the  plant  and  animal  kingdoms,  weary  of  their  con- 
flict with  life,  have  sunk  under  their  light  covering 
of  snow  ?  Has  no  one  thought  of  the  young  forces, 
continually  gathering  and  developing  beneath  it, 
which,  in  a  few  short  months,  will  produce  a  new 
world  of  splendour  before  our  eyes  ?  Like  a  soft 
blanket  of  spun  silk  has  winter  been  spread  by 
Mother  Nature  over  the  cradle  of  spring. 

The  German  visionary  often  indulges  in  such  win- 
ter phantasies  as  these.  But  it  was  otherwise  with 
Wahnfred  on  the  day  when,  with  a  heavy  bundle 
and  gun  fastened  on  his  back,  he  worked  his  way 
upward  through  snow  and  underbrush  from  out  the 
gorge  of  the  Rabenkirche  to  the  summit  of  the 
Trasank,  where  the  territory  of  Trawies  ends  and 
the  Ritscher  forest  begins.  The  Ritscher  is  a  part  of 
the  Birstling  and  the  Tarn  forests,  for  they  all  be- 
long to  the  same  mountain  chain,  though  it  is  on  a 
higher  level  and  spreads  itself  over  an  immense 
plateau,  gradually  rising  towards  the  rocky  heights. 
To-day  this  forest  is  nearly  destroyed  and  most  of 
the  streams,  once  so  numerous,  are  exhausted.  At 
the  time  of  this  story  there  was  no  path  through 
this  desolate  mountain  region,  which  was  avoided 
and  feared  on  account  of  its  beasts  of  prey.  The 
beeches  and  oaks  were  luxuriant  and  of  immense 
size — a  giant  race.  Here  the  wood-pecker,  the  vul- 
ture, the  eagle,  and  whatsoever  was  able  to  live  by 
conflict  reigned  supreme. 


Godless  203 

Such  was  the  region  whither  Wahnfred  was  now 
going.  This  man,  like  the  rest  of  his  race  in  those 
days,  did  not  understand  nature  as  we  of  the  pre- 
sent generation  understand  it.  He  feared  the  Alpine 
storms,  the  torrents,  the  avalanches ;  and  the  wild- 
ness,  which  we  call  beauty,  was  to  him  oppressive 
and  terrible.  At  that  time  Nature  had  no  soul;  it 
was  left  for  man  to  embue  her  with  his  own ;  and 
the  larger  the  heart  of  him  who  contemplates  her,  so 
much  more  meaning  does  she  have  for  him. 

Wahnfred  was  unconsciously  filled  with  a  desire 
to  be  absorbed  in  nature ;  he  saw  that  his  life  had 
been  a  failure,  although  at  present  he  thought  of 
nothing  but  flight  and  of  saving  himself  for  a  volun- 
tary penance.  He  breathed  more  freely  when  he 
reached  the  summit,  where  about  him  lay  the  snowy 
brightness  of  winter.  He  looked  back  over  the  nar- 
row valley  of  the  Trach,  branching  off  from  the 
cliffs  of  the  Trasank  and  winding  through  steep, 
wooded  hills  beyond,  to  the  dim,  blue,  cone-shaped 
Johannesberg,  to  the  left  of  which  was  the  Gestade. 
Opposite  is  the  Rockenberg  and  above  the  trees 
rises  a  curling  thread  of  smoke  from  the  house  of 
the  fire  guardian.  Where  the  valley  widens,  towers 
from  out  the  mist  the  jagged  edges  of  a  cliff — the 
Dreiwand.  Yonder  is  Trawies.  Yonder,  Wahn- 
fred, lies  the  stiff,  cold  body  of  a  man  who  is  a 
greater  enemy  to  thee  in  death  than  he  ever  was  in 
life!  Farther  to  the  left,  connecting  with  the 
mountain  chain  on  this  side,  is  the  blue  Tarn.  In 
this  region  stands  Bart's  house,  where  a  homeless 
woman  and  a  fatherless  child  have  taken  refuge. 


204  The  God  Seeker 

A  thrill  passed  through  the  man  and  his  feet 
turned  involuntarily  towards  the  Tarn;  but  he  had 
been  warned,  he  knew  that  bailiffs  were  searching 
from  house  to  house,  and  that  his  return  would 
plunge,  not  himself  alone,  but  his  family,  yes,  the 
whole  parish,  into  the  greatest  danger. 

Wahnfred  deplored  his  deed — it  had  stirred  his  in- 
nermost being,  as  the  eruption  of  a  volcano  stirs 
the  bowels  of  the  earth ;  but  he  did  not  regret  it. 
He  resolved  to  keep  himself  in  concealment  and  to 
wait  for  the  time  when  without  danger  he  might  re- 
turn to  his  valley,  to  consecrate  his  whole  life  to  the 
forest  parish  of  Trawies.  The  first  part  of  his  mis- 
sion was  accomplished;  the  evil  which  had  been 
bringing  ruin  upon  them  was  removed ;  the  second 
part,  the  restoration  of  peace  and  prosperity,  re- 
mained for  him  yet  to  fulfil. 

He  now  turned  and  entered  the  wintry  wilder- 
ness. The  path  was  almost  level.  The  deep  snow 
between  the  trees  bore  his  weight  in  places  and  in 
others  broke  under  its  burden,  often  causing  him  to 
sink  to  his  shoulders,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
he  extricated  himself.  He  made  but  little  progress 
and  finally  became  so  exhausted  that  he  sank  into 
the  snow  and  stars  swam  before  his  eyes  in  circles. 
•'  This,  then,  is  the  end,"  he  thought. 

But  he  revived,  his  limbs  strengthened  by  the 
snow  and  the  sun  shining  so  brightly  over  the  tree- 
tops.  Wahnfred  then  reflected  how  he  could  devise 
means  to  proceed  on  his  journey.  In  the  evening 
the  snow  would  freeze  and  bear  his  weight.  But 
who  could  wander  here  in  the  night  without  going 


Godless  265 

astray  ?  There  remained  but  one  thing  for  him  to 
do.  Cutting  boughs  from  a  pine-tree  with  his  axe, 
he  wove  them  into  two  flat  discs  which  he  bound 
upon  his  feet.  With  these  he  now  advanced.  The 
snpw  cracked  under  him,  but  did  not  break.  He 
cut  his  way  through  thickets  and  fallen  trees.  He 
walked  through  forests  so  dense  that  no  snow  had 
reached  the  ground ;  he  passed  over  desolate  clear- 
ings where  stood  but  few  trees,  their  broken 
branches  dangling  as  the  wind  had  left  them.  He 
could  no  longer  see  the  region  of  Trawies;  a  strange 
horizon,  all  forest  and  winter,  met  his  view.  Only 
a  few  peaks  of  the  Trasank  gleamed  like  gold  above 
the  hills. 

At  last  he  reached  a  little  stream  gurgling  through 
the  sand  over  its  pebbly  bottom,  its  wavelets  glisten- 
ing like  tiny  mosaics.  Our  wanderer  was  now  on  the 
right  path,  which  followed  this  stream  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  hermitage.  A  vulture  now  and  then 
fluttered  up,  alighting  on  the  branches  above  him, 
and  Wahnfred  saw  that  he  would  not  be  alone.  He 
noticed  tracks  in  the  snow  almost  obliterated  by 
marks  resembling  those  left  by  a  broom,  as  though 
some  other  fugitive  had  passed  this  way,  who 
also  had  reason  for  destroying  his  footsteps.  He 
knew  the  miscreant ;  it  was  the  wolf  with  the  bushy 
tail. 

When  the  sun  had  passed  its  meridian,  Wahnfred 
seated  himself  upon  a  bare  stone  projecting  out  of 
the  snow,  to  eat  his  midday  meal.  Resting  his  head 
on  his  hand,  he  gazed  thoughtfully  into  the  dis- 
tance.     To  be  so  far  from   man,   one   lonely  soul 


2o6  The  God  Seeker 

between  the  frozen  earth  and  the  relentless  sky — 
deserted,  forgotten,  lost! 

The  lids  gradually  closed  over  his  weary  eyes  and 
he  slept. 

Upon  a  branch  of  a  larch-tree  sat  a  snow-bunt- 
ing, cocking  its  little  head  on  one  side  and  looking 
down  at  the  sleeper,  as  though  in  astonishment  at 
the  strange  intruder.  In  the  thicket  yonder  glit- 
tered the  greenish  eyes  of  a  fox. 

Suddenly  Wahnfred  started  with  a  shudder  and 
sprang  from  his  seat,  staring  wildly  about  him.  He 
did  not  see  the  bird,  he  did  not  see  the  fox;  he  was 
looking  for  another  and  feared  to  see  Him.  He  had 
heard  a  voice  in  his  dream:  "  Cain,  where  is  thy 
brother  ? " 


w 


CHAPTER   III 


AHNFRED   proceeded   on  his   way.      The 
effort  of  walking  had  somewhat/ calmed  his 


excited  brain.  At  last  he  arrived  at^anigh,  perpen- 
dicular wall  of  rock,  which  cut  off  his  path  and  over 
which  dashed  the  gurgling  stream.  The  old  ladder 
that  the  men  of  Trawies  had  found  when  they  came 
to  carry  away  the  body  of  the  hermit  was  no  longer 
here.  It  was  scarcely  possible  to  make  the  circuit 
of  this  long  stretch  of  wall,  for  it  reached  far  into 
the  wilderness.  Along  the  waterfall,  where  the  ice 
had  formed  in  masses,  Wahnfred  cut  steps  and 
swung  himself  to  the  summit.  The  first  thaw 
would  melt  the  steps  and  the  wall  would  protect 
him  like  a  fortress  against  his  pursuers. 

The  way  was  now  less  difiEicult,  ascending  gently 
through  the  forest  or  over  clearings.  Wahnfred 
frequently  heard  a  loud,  baying  sound,  at  which 
everything  defenceless  in  the  forest  fled. 

When  the  crust  of  the  snow  had  become  hard 
once  more  and  the  sun  had  sunk  behind  the  bluish 
wall  of  trees,  the  wanderer  noticed  on  the  banks  of 
the  stream  a  triangular  stone,  placed  there  to  mark 
the  path.  Here  he  turned  to  the  left,  forced  his 
way  through  a  thicket  and  up   a   hill,  where   the 

207 


2o8  The  God  Seeker 

ground  was  strewn  with  moss  -covered  stones,  then 
descended  towards  the  valley  into  a  wide  basin  sur- 
rounded on  one  side  by  forest,  on  the  other  by 
precipices,  and  containing  but  few  trees.  He  was 
at  the  foot  of  a  bare,  rocky  mountain  called  the 
Donnerstein.  And  now  Wahnfred  had  reached  his 
goal. 

Under  a  group  of  pines,  whose  branches  were  in- 
tertwined with  one  another,  and  whose  weather- 
beaten  tops  reached  far  up  into  the  sky,  stood  the 
hermit's  cell. 

It  was  strongly  built  and  little  resembled  a  cell; 
the  beams  were  so  massive  that  a  man  could  have 
scarcely  embraced  them ;  the  steep  roof  was  made 
of  stout  logs,  so  that  neither  beasts  of  prey  could 
enter  nor  falling  trees  destroy  it.  The  wood  was  as 
hard  as  rock — a  wood  seldom  seen  in  our  days.  The 
windows  were  few  in  number  and  they  were  closed 
by  bars  on  the  inner  side.  To  find  the  entrance  one 
was  obliged  to  go  around  the  hut ;  at  the  back, 
where  the  low,  overhanging  boughs  formed  a  dense 
thicket,  was  the  narrow,  heavy  door,  still  bolted  as 
the  men  of  Trawies  had  left  it  at  the  hermit's  death. 

It  was  unknown  who  had  built  this  hut  in  the 
wilderness;  it,  together  with  the  hermit,  had  been 
discovered  many  years  previous  by  the  fire  guar- 
dian, when,  as  beater,  he  was  accompanying  a  hunt- 
ing party  from  the  cloister.  The  hermit,  on  his 
knees,  had  implored  him  not  to  disclose  his  abiding- 
place.  The  fire  guardian  promised  and  had  kept 
his  word.  Every  three  years  he  had  ascended  to 
the  Ritscher  forest  to  look  after  the  nian,  who^  like 


Godless  209 

a  true  hermit,  lived  on  herbs,  roots,  and  prayer. 
His  appearance  was  wild,  his  hair  and  beard  un- 
kempt, and  he  had  nearly  lost  the  use  of  his  speech. 
He  had  shown  no  annoyance  at  the  visits  of  the 
man  from  Trawies,  and  when  the  latter  had  become 
convinced  that  this  human  creature  was  in  need  of 
no  aid,  or  rather  that  he  scorned  it,  he  had  re- 
turned with  a  lightened  heart  to  his  distant  valley. 
At  his  last  visit  he  had  found  the  man  dead,  the 
body  in  a  position  which  terrified  him  and  which  he 
had  never  betrayed  to  a  human  being;  nevertheless, 
the  hermit  had  been  carried  to  Trawies  for  Christ- 
ian burial  in  the  churchyard.  But  the  fire  guardian 
did  not  forget  the  hut  in  the  Ritscher  forest,  and 
when  it  became  necessary  to  send  Wahnfred  to  a 
place  of  safety,  he  had  chosen  this  asylum. 

Wahnfred  now  entered  the  house,  shuddering  at 
the  mouldy  atmosphere  which  greeted  him.  Throw- 
ing open  the  windows,  he  built  a  fire,  and  as  the 
flames  crackled,  proclaiming  the  sacred  presence  of 
Vesta,  the  Goddess  of  the  Hearth,  he  was  com- 
forted. 

The  fireplace  was  larger  than  one  would  expect 
to  find  in  the  hut  of  an  eater  of  herbs  and  roots  and 
it  was  well  built,  having  even  a  kind  of  chimney  for 
the  escape  of  the  smoke.  Close  by  was  a  couch  of 
moss,  a  praying-stool  before  the  crucifix  on  the 
wall,  a  table,  a  cabinet,  and  a  number  of  other  arti- 
cles accumulated  by  the  hermit.  The  smoothly 
tiled  walls,  the  glass  in  the  windows,  and  the  well 
made  floor  were  unusual  in  a  hermitage.  Wahnfred 
unpacked  the  provisions  and  the  few  oth^r  things. 


2IO  The  God  Seeker 

which  he  had  brought  with  him,  set  his  gun  in  one 
corner,  where  it  would  always  be  ready,  and  made 
himself  as  comfortable  as  possible,  that  he  might 
rest  after  his  fatiguing  journey. 

When  the  fire  had  died  down  he  still  sat  staring 
into  the  glowing  embers.  And  now,  scarcely  two 
hours  since  his  arrival  in  this  house,  he  began  to 
feel  the  horror  of  loneliness,  the  longing  for  his  dear 
ones.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  as  though  it  arose 
from  the  fire,  appeared  to  him  the  vision  of  that 
scene  at  the  altar  in  all  its  horrible  reality.  In  the 
night  he  creeps  into  the  sacristry,  following  the 
priest.  In  a  corner,  behind  the  large  wardrobe  con- 
taining the  priestly  vestments,  he  stands  like  a 
black  pillar  in  the  darkness.  At  the  ringing  of  the 
little  bell  he  strikes  the  cross  with  his  right  hand, 
while  with  his  left  he  convulsively  grasps  the  axe 
beneath  his  cloak.  As  the  priest  is  elevating  the 
Host,  the  thought  comes  to  him:  "  I  will  not  do 
it!  "  But  as  he  sees  the  chalice  through  the  half- 
open  door,  another  thought  follows  the  first : 
"  Christ's  blood!  Blood  must  flow  to  redeem  the 
world !  "  At  the  Agnus  dei  he  beats  his  breast  and 
prays  that  neither  hatred  nor  a  feeling  of  revenge 
shall  guide  his  arm.  And  when  he  sees  the  priest 
bowed  in  humility  to  partake  of  Christ's  body,  he 
is  filled  with  pity  and  love,  rejoicing  that  this  spirit 
has  entered  the  heart  of  the  man  at  the  altar,  for 
only  thus  would  his  own  deed  be  sanctified.  With 
outstretched  arms  the  priest  turns  towards  the  peo- 
ple and  the  choir  sings:  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  that 
die  in  the  Lord,"     Wahnfred  opens  1;he  outer  door 


Godless  211 

and  takes  his  place  by  the  entrance  through  which 
the  priest  must  pass  from  the  altar.  The  latter, 
taking  the  sacred  vessels,  descends  the  steps  and 
approaches  the  door.  Seizing  the  axe  with  both 
hands,  Wahnfred  moves  back  a  few  paces,  then  falls 
upon  his  victim.  A  cry  burst  from  his  lips  as  he 
now  sat  by  his  lonely  hearth,  his  face  buried  in  his 
hands,  for  again  he  saw  the  look  which  the  dying 
man  had  given  him,  and  again  he  saw  the  body  fal- 
ling upon  the  steps  and  the  soul  entering  the  flames. 
Had  he  perhaps  sent  a  man  to  hell  ?  As  the  mur- 
derer of  a  soul  he  trembled  and  groaned  before  the 
glowing  embers. 

Utterly  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  excitement, 
he  at  last  fell  asleep. 

And  thus  began  his  solitary  life.  The  cheerful 
fire  on  his  hearth,  which  he  never  allowed  to  be  ex- 
tinguished, was  his  only  companion  and  friend. 
Ravens  circled  about  the  group  of  pine-trees  over 
the  spot  where  the  smoke  ascended.  At  night  the 
wolves  howled  and  the  sleepless  Wahnfred  often 
heard  the  belling  of  the  deer,  fleeing  from  their  pur- 
suers. Several  times  a  day  he  went  out  to  gather 
wood  or  to  fetch  water  from  a  spring  in  a  crude 
bucket  which  he  had  found,  or  to  investigate  his  sur- 
roundings ;  and  frequently  he  took  his  gun  to  look 
for  game,  seldom  returning  without  booty.  This 
man,  usually  so  filled  with  forebodings,  played  with 
his  fire  without  a  suspicion  that  below  in  Trawies 
the  fatal  lots  were  being  drawn  from  the  chalice. 
He  slept  quietly  during  that  hour  when  in  the 
church  death  was   demanding   its   victims   at   the 


212  The  God  Seeker 

altar,  in  revenge  for  his  deed.  Once,  as  he  was  sit- 
ting on  a  stump  in  front  of  his  hut,  gazing  over  the 
distant  snow-fields  or  up  into  the  grey  sky,  he  sud- 
denly fancied  that  he  heard  the  bells  of  Trawies. 
They  sounded  strangely,  each  of  the  three  bells  be- 
ing quite  distinct,  but  when  he  sprang  from  his  seat 
to  listen,  the  ringing  had  ceased.  The  old  chronicle 
states:  **  Das  seynd gewest  die  Klocken  von  Trawies, 
so  verbannet  worden,  gleichsamblich  in  die  Wildnussen 
,j^ntfleuchend ''  ("Those  were  the  bells  of  Trawies, 
fleeing  from  the  outlawed  village  into  the  wilder- 
ness    ). 

The  time  was  now  approaching  when  all  Christen- 
dom celebrates  the  festival  of  the  birth  of  our  Lord. 
Wahnfred  did  not  know  the  exact  day,  for  while  in 
concealment  at  the  fire  guardian's  and  in  the  wilder- 
ness, he  had  lost  track  of  the  time.  But  even  in  his 
loneliness  and  isolation  he  was  filled  with  a- longing 
to  join  in  the  prayer  on  that  night  when  Christians 
are  kneeling  in  adoration  before  the  Christ  Child. 
On  the  road  that  leads  us  Godward,  we  may  all 
meet  in  spirit  while  repeating  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
this  prayer,  which,  like  the  roar  of  the  storm  or  the 
song  of  birds,  is  heard  over  the  entire  earth.  But 
Wahnfred — the  outcast — was  separated,  not  only  by 
space,  but  also  by  time,  from  all  mankind. 

At  that  period  the  faithful  still  considered  the 
Christmas  festival,  not  like  ourselves,  as  the  one 
voluntarily  chosen  and  appointed,  but  as  the  real 
birthday  of  our  Lord.  Wahnfred  at  last  fixed  upon 
a  day.  In  the  morning,  armed  with  a  stout  stick, 
he  left  the  house.    The  air  was  cold,  the  sky  cloud- 


Godless  213 

less,  the  snow  frozen  and  hard.  He  strode  over  the 
wide  clearing  and  climbed  the  precipice  to  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Donnerstein,  from  where  he  could  look 
far  out  into  the  land  beyond.  The  region  of 
Trawies  lay  too  deep,  but  the  high  cliffs  of  the  Tra- 
sank,  the  summit  of  the  Johannesberg,  and  a  corner 
of  the  Tarn  forest  were  visible.  Beyond  were  the 
dim,  blue  plains.  Out  there  were  churches  and 
monasteries  preparing  for  the  night's  celebration! 
Out  there  lived  people  who,  with  a  song  of  praise 
in  their  happy  hearts,  were  going  forth  to  the  holy 
festival !  Every  house  had  become  a  temple,  in 
every  family  the  bonds  of  affection  had  been 
deepened. 

Thus  it  had  always  been  at  the  Gestade,  where 
now  a  charred  ruin  rose  out  of  the  snow. 

Then,  on  this  day  at  the  setting  of  the  sun,  a 
peculiar  atmosphere  had  seemed  to  spread  over  the 
landscape.  In  the  lengthening  shadows  had  lain  a 
wondrous  magic;  the  brooks,  beneath  their  icy  cov- 
ering, ceased  their  murmuring,  and  in  the  forest  no 
human  voice  was  heard.  It  was  as  if  Nature,  in 
anticipation  of  the  holy  festival,  had  laid  her  finger 
upon  her  lips:  "  Silence!     Silence!" 

But  to-day !  To-day  was  like  all  other  days  in 
midwinter.  In  Wahnfred  the  childlike  mood  was 
wanting  and  he  feared  that  he  had  mistaken  the 
time.  He  was  not  yet  conscious  of  the  fact  that  for 
those  unfortunates  who  have  committed  a  sinful 
deed,  the  child's  heaven  on  earth  is  over  for  ever. 

When  in  the  country  beyond  twilight  had  fallen, 
the  sun  still  shone  brightly  upon  the  summit  where 


214  The  God  Seeker 

Wahnfred  was  standing.  He  then  thought:  "  If 
someone  out  yonder  should  raise  his  eyes,  he  would 
see  the  Alpine  glow  on  these  distant  heights,  but  he 
would  not  imagine,  nor  could  he  know  that  here,  on 
this  cold,  lonely,  glittering  spot,  an  outcast  is  stand- 
ing, celebrating  this  festival  with  a  reverent  heart. 
In  remembrance  of  this  Holy  Day,  I  set  up  an  altar 
on  this  mountain,  which  I  now  name  the  Christtag- 
^<?r^  (Christmas  Mountain)." 

With  his  stick  he  wrote  the  words  in  the  snow 
and  then  descended  to  his  hut.  After  putting  his 
possessions  in  order,  he  lighted  and  cleaned  the  rooip, 
and  in  lack  of  other  decoration  fastened  pine  boughs 
upon  the  roughly  hewn  cross.  He  hardly  knew 
how  best  to  satisfy  the  inner  longings  of  his  heart. 

That  night  he  did  not  go  to  bed.  He  replenished 
the  fire  constantly  and  the  flames  roared  and 
crackled.  And  then  he  thought  of  his  wife  and  child. 
At  the  side  of  the  hearth  he  now  set  up  two  little 
lighted  torches  on  a  stone, — the  one  his  wife,  the 
other  his  child.  As  they  were  dying  out,  he  turned 
away  his  face,  to  avoid  seeing  which  was  first  extin- 
guished. Thus  love  itself  tormented  him.  He 
tried  to  recall  the  pictures  of  Bethlehem,  but  now 
his  heart  was  cold.  Another  picture,  dark  and 
bloody,  blotted  out  the  sweet  idyl  of  the  Orient ; 
and  the  angels  hovering  in  the  air,  who  in  previous 
seasons  had  proclaimed  peace  on  earth,  to-day  blew 
on  brazen  trumpets. 

Wahnfred  perceived  that  he  could  not  think  and 
dream  as  formerly,  nor  could  he  be  happy  in  his 
dreaming.     He   longed  to  hear  a  song  which   his 


Godless  2 1 5 

wife  used  to  sing  on  Christmas  eve,  he  longed  for 
some  reh'gious  book,  he  longed  for  his  Bible.  Had 
his  predecessor  in  this  cell  been  wanting  in  a  soul  ? 
Had  he  spent  his  days  in  eating  roots  and  herbs, 
and  in  kneeling  before  the  cross  ?  Had  he  left  no 
trace  behind  him  of  an  intellectual  life  ? 

Wahnfred  rummaged  once  more  in  the  cabinet, 
where  he  had  found  only  a  haircloth  garment,  a  few 
rosaries,  and  other  ordinary  articles;  he  then 
searched  in  the  dry  moss  of  his  couch,  in  which  he 
discovered  between  two  little  boards  tied  together 
with  a  string — a  package  of  manuscript.  This  was 
something  unusual.  In  that  age  there  were  not 
many  people  who  could  read,  and  the  art  of  writing 
was  known  only  in  the  monasteries,  castles,  and 
cities.  Trawies,  however,  was  a  notable  exception. 
The  spirit  of  independence  which  had  always  ob- 
tained in  this  forest  parish  knew  well  that  the  arts  of 
reading,  writing,  and  reckoning  were  a  necessity  for 
all  who  wished  to  control  their  own  land.  And  one 
learned  in  these  arts  now  held  the  manuscript  in  his 
hand. 

Wahnfred  replenished  the  fire  and  seated  himself 
before  it,  turning  over  the  pages  and  reading.  The 
contents  stirred  his  soul  to  its  depth;  his  eyes  be- 
gan to  glow  with  a  strange  light,  until  at  last  he 
sprang  to  his  feet,  crying:  "  This  is  the  truth!  " 

It  is  impossible  to  repeat  the  exact  words,  for  the 
papers  have  been  destroyed.  They  had  evidently 
been  written  by  a  visionary.  Living  a  life  of 
wretchedness,  caused  by  his  own  sins,  he  had  en- 
deavoured to  hold  God  and  the  world  responsible. 


2i6  The  God  Seeker 

had  rebelled  against  human  laws  and  also  against 
those  that  we  call  sacred.  He  had  evolved  a  creed 
of  his  own,  which  at  first  seemed  to  satisfy  him,  but 
which  at  last  had  proved  his  ruin. 

Written  at  the  top  of  the  first  page,  with  the  sar- 
castic humour  of  one  condemned  to  death,  were  the 
words:  "  Revelations  of  a  Pious  Hermit."  The 
purport  of  the  contents  was  as  follows : 

In  the  beginning,  God  created  heaven.  The  chief 
of  all  the  angels,  beset  by  evil  and  envy,  spread  his 
wings  and  deposited  an  egg  in  heaven,  whereupon 
God  cast  out  the  wicked  angel,  together  with  his 
egg.  This  was  of  great  size  and  hovered  in  the  air; 
its  interior,  filled  with  fire  and  brimstone,  was  called 
hell.  As  the  egg  revolved,  exposing  its  exterior  to 
the  warmth  of  the  sun,  all  kinds  of  life  appeared 
upon  its  surface,  plants,  animals,  and  human  be- 
ings, and  the  outside  of  the  egg  was  called  earth. 
The  wicked  angel,  who  was  the  devil,  cast  the  soul 
of  every  man  that  died  on  the  earth  into  the  flames 
of  hell.  God  then  rose  in  His  wrath  and  cried : 
"  Thou  art  unjust  to  cast  innocent  beings  into  the 
everlasting  fire!"  To  which  the  devil  replied: 
"  What  is  that  to  Thee  ?  I  made  the  egg,  it  is 
mine!  Didst  Thou  not  curse  me  and  thrust  me  out 
from  heaven,  saying:  '  It  is  Mine!  It  is  Mine!'?" 
And  God  replied:  "  The  egg  may  belong  to  thee, 
but  the  beings  upon  it  belong  to  Me;  for  My  sun 
has  warmed  and  developed  them,  I  have  spoken  to 
them  through  My  stars,  they  have  rejoiced  in  My 
light  and  listened  to  My  voice."  The  devil  an- 
swered: "  What!     Thy  sun  which  does  not  shine 


Godless  217 

at  night !  Thy  stars  that  do  not  gleam  by  day !  The 
heat  of  the  inner  fire  has  penetrated  through  the 
soil  and  warmed  and  developed  the  race.  Their 
blood  and  their  passions  are  heated  by  my  fire.  The 
wheat  grows  upon  my  fields  and  I  will  harvest  it." 
Realising  the  truth  of  the  devil's  words,  God  said : 
"  Well  and  good!  Let  us  divide.  Thou  mayest 
keep  the  plants  and  animals  and  I  will  take  the  hu- 
man beings."  "  How  sly  Thou  art!  "  cried  the 
devil.  "  Thou  mayest  keep  the  plants  and  animals, 
for  it  is  the  human  beings  that  I  especially  desire!  " 
And  God  said:  "  Let  us  not  contend!  We  will 
leave  the  decision  to  man  himself.  He  is  sensible  of 
the  warmth  of  thy  hell,  he  feels  and  sees  My  sun- 
light; with  his  feet  he  stands  upon  the  earth;  with 
his  eyes  he  gazes  heavenward.  He  shall  choose.  Is 
he  attracted  by  thy  fire,  does  he  abandon  himself  to 
the  fruits  of  thy  earth,  he  is  thine.  If  he  rejects  thy 
heat  and  despises  the  good  things  of  thy  kingdom, 
then  is  he  Mine."  "  What !  "  cried  the  devil.  "  If 
he  rejects  my  fire  and  despises  the  blessings  of  the 
earth,  he  cannot  live !  "  "  Yes, ' '  said  God,  ' '  he  will 
die;  he  will  flee  into  the  wilderness  to  escape  thee; 
he  will  turn  his  eyes  heavenward,  preferring  death 
to  life.  For  the  more  he  is  filled  with  hatred  to- 
wards thee  and  love  for  Me,  just  so  much  the  more 
will  he  long  to  leave  the  earth  and  come  to  Me. 
And  when  he  has  grown  so  unselfish  that  he  is  will- 
ing to  himself  cut  the  bloody  fetters  that  bind  him 
to  thee,  then  with  a  cry  of  joy  will  he  fly  into 
My  arms,  and  with  a  cry  of  joy  will  I  receive 
him!" 


2i8  The  God  Seeker 

The  second  part  of  the  manuscript  which  Wahn- 
fred  found  in  his  couch  of  moss  bore  the  title: 
"  The  Hermit's  Confession.'* 

It  read  as  follows : 

"  If  I  write  out  my  lifers  history,  it  is  not  to  leave 
it  to  the  world,  to  that  kingdom  of  darkness ;  my 
wish  is  rather  that  it  may  fall  into  the  hands  of 
someone  who,  like  myself,  flees  from  the  world  and 
longs  for  rest.  Another  will  hardly  come  to  this 
lonely  spot,  in  which  case  the  manuscript  will  be 
destroyed  and  I  shall  carry  my  secret  to  God,  Who, 
on  account  of  my  penance,  will  in  His  mercy  pardon 
me. 

"  My  ancestral  castle  stands  two  days'  Journey 
distant  upon  a  rocky  eminence,  below  which  flows 
the  great  river.  It  is  the  only  rock  in  the  fertile 
land  that,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see,  is  a  part  of  our 
possessions.  We  are  the  Counts  von  Bechern,  our 
forefathers  going  back  to  the  court  of  the  Roman 
Emperor,  Karl  den  Becher.  Concerning  the  deeds 
of  our  race,  I  will  be  silent ;  they  are  great  only  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world.  My  sin  alone  I  will  confess, 
imploring  God's  pardon  with  every  breath. 

"  My  father  left  two  sons  when  he  died,  my 
brother  and  myself.  My  brother  was  the  elder  and 
.the  master  at  Bechern.  His  was  an  ardent,  impet- 
uous nature,  and,  urged  on  by  the  inspiration  of  the 
moment,  he  would  often  perform  the  most  incredi- 
ble acts.  His  passions  were  as  hot  as  hell,  his  youth 
full  of  pleasures,  and  among  the  beautiful  women 
in  the  earldom  were  few  who  did  not  suffer  for  his 
sins.     Wrecked  in  body  and  in  mind,  my  brother — 


Godless  219 

he  was  in  his  twenty-sixth  year — fell  seriously  ill. 
Doctors  and  priests  came  to  his  bedside,  the  first  to 
save  his  body,  the  second  to  save  his  soul.  In  the 
beginning  he  raved  in  delirium,  then  sank  into  a 
stupor,  and  one  night,  as  we  were  assembled  to  per- 
form for  him  the  last  offices,  he  raised  himself  in 
bed  and  with  outstretched  arms  and  upturned  face 
cried  with  a  loud  voice :  '  My  God,  my  great,  my 
only  God!  My  beloved  Jesus!  My  sweet,  most 
holy  Virgin  Mary !  Take  me  to  heaven !  I  despise 
this  vile  world !  I  thirst,  I  thirst  for  the  kingdom 
of  God !  '  With  these  words  he  sank  exhausted 
upon  his  pillow.  The  next  day  the  crisis  was  past, 
my  brother  was  convalescent.  But  when  fully  re- 
stored, his  cheeks  were  no  longer  ruddy  as  before, 
his  eyes  had  a  deeper  glow.  And  he  then  told  me 
of  his  intention  to  alter  his  mode  of  existence  and  to 
lead  thenceforth  a  solitary  life,  as  the  holy  martyrs 
had  done,  serving  God  in  penance  and  prayer. 

"  I  listened  and  did  not  oppose  him  and  praised 
God  for  having  enlightened  his  soul.  He  left  the 
castle  and  withdrew  into  the  depths  of  the  wilder- 
ness to  a  substantial  hermitage  which  had  been 
built  for  him.  He  furnished  it  with  many  comforts, 
thinking  that  with  agreeable  surroundings  he  would 
take  a  greater  pleasure  in  serving  God  and  winning 
heaven  than  would  be  the  case  if  living  in  misery 
and  in  want.  He  dismissed  the  workmen,  after 
requiring  of  them  an  oath  of  secrecy  concerning  his 
place  of  abode.    And  then  began  his  life  of  penance. 

"  I  praised  my  pious  brother;  I  was  now  master 
in  the  castle  and  earldom.     And  I  too  revelled  in 


220  The  God  Seeker 

those  pleasures  which  my  brother  had  enjoyed,  not 
in  rioting  and  drunkenness  as  he  had  done,  but  de- 
liberately and  calmly,  thus  corrupting  my  very  soul. 
I  loved  a  beautiful  lady  in  one  of  the  neighbouring 
castles,  who  received  me  with  favour  as  Count  von 
Bechern.  What  a  pleasure  it  was,  with  my  lady  at 
my  side,  to  roll  along  over  the  broad  roads  drawn 
by  four,  or  sometimes  six,  magnificent  black  steeds! 
What  joy  it  gave  me,  seated  on  my  charger,  to  gal- 
lop over  the  country,  observing  how  respectfully 
everyone  greeted  the  Count !  I  had  all  I  could  wish 
to  satisfy  youth  and  ambition.  One  brought  up 
from  childhood  to  rule,  and  already  familiar  with 
the  thought,  cannot  appreciate  the  happiness  that  I 
experienced  as  young  master  of  Bechern.  And  how 
splendidly  my  future  unrolled  itself  before  my 
eyes! 

"  One  day,  after  many  months,  my  brother  reap- 
peared. His  sojourn  in  the  wilderness  had  given 
him  little  satisfaction;  it  was  dreary  and  monoton- 
ous; the  diet  of  roots  and  herbs  was  injuring  his 
health,  so  he  had  decided  to  return  to  his  castle, 
there  to  continue  his  religious  life.  He  thanked  me 
for  my  administration  of  his  affairs  in  the  earldom 
during  his  absence. 

"  What  my  answer  was  I  do  not  remember;  but 
what  I  thought  and  felt,  that  I  have  never  forgot- 
ten.     Rather  die  than  be  deposed  ! 

"  Not  until  the  following  day  was  I  sufificiently 
calm  to  approach  the  man  who  had  so  inconsider- 
ately crossed  the  path  of  my  happiness. 

"  '  Brother,'    I  said,    '  that    of  which  I  wish    to 


Godless  221 

speak,  let  us  discuss  quietly,  as  is  fitting  for  gentle- 
men.    One  of  us  two  is  superfluous  here!  ' 

"  Understanding  me  perfectly,  he  replied:  '  If 
thou,  my  dear  brother,  hast  not  room  enough  in  our 
ancestral  castle,  then  give  me  thy  hand  and  go  thy 
way.' 

"  '  Not  so,'  I  answered.  '  I  am  master  at  Bech- 
ern.  Thou  hast  relinquished  all  claim  to  these 
possessions,  and  a  gentlemen  does  not  break  his 
word. ' 

"  *  To  whom  have  I  given  my  word  ? ' 

"  *  To  me,  in  that  thou  hast  deserted  our  father's 
inheritance,  leaving  it  without  a  lord  and  protector. 
I  have  defended  it  before  the  enemy,  so  by  right  it 
belongs  to  me.  And  thou  hast  given  thy  spoken 
word  to  God  to  renounce  the  world !  ' 

"  *  Art  thou  counsellor  for  God  ?  '  asked  my 
brother.  '  Wilt  thou  hold  me  responsible  for  that 
promised  in  delirium  ?  ' 

"  '  Villain!  '  I  cried,  '  thou  art  still  in  delirium!  ' 

"  '  This  is  too  much!  '  he  shouted,  drawing  his 
sword  from  its  sheath. 

"  Springing  back  a  step,  I  seized  my  dagger;  we 
fought;  he  fell — and  I  was  master  of  Bechern. 

"  I  tried  to  resume  my  former  life,  but  all  was 
now  changed ;  my  pleasure  in  it  I  was  obliged  to 
simulate;  I  was  unhappy  and  miserable.  I  en- 
deavoured to  find  comfort  in  the  arms  of  my  lady, 
but  she  repulsed  me,  telling  me  that  murderers  she 
did  not  love. 

"  '  My  brother  fell  in  a  duel! '  I  cried. 

"  *  Who  can  prove  it  ?    Who  witnessed  the  deed  ? 


22^  The  God  Seeker 

He  stood  in  your  way — you  meant  to  kill  him  and 
you  succeeded !  ' 

"  I  was  silent,  for  I  have  never  disputed  the 
truth.  She  had  spoken  aloud  that  for  which  my 
conscience  had  been  reproaching  me.  I  was  master 
of  Bechern,  but  my  lady  fled  from  me,  despised  me. 
My  subjects  greeted  me  fawningly,  but  with  a 
sneer,  and  I  read  in  every  eye  that  I  was  regarded 
as  a  murderer.  At  night  I  was  tormented  by  horri- 
ble dreams  and  visions.  I  fought  against  them ;  I 
gave  alms  and  ordered  masses  for  my  brother's  soul. 
All  in  vain !  My  burden  became  more  and  more  un- 
bearable. I  had  closed  the  apartment  where  my 
brother  had  fallen ;  but  now  the  entire  castle  filled 
me  with  terror.  Trembling  in  fear  of  ghosts,  I  my- 
self wandered  about  like  a  ghost. 

"  Enduring  it  as  long  as  I  could  I  finally  relin- 
quished everything.  Relatives  and  friends  took 
charge  of  my  possessions,  declaring  me  to  be  a  fool. 
Taking  with  me  an  old  retainer,  I  fled.  When  he 
asked  where  we  were  going,  I  laughed  him  in  the 
face.  *  Away  from  mankind,  away  from  everything, 
away  from  myself !  '  ^^^ 

"  The  man  looked  at  me  sadly,  then  told  me  that 
for  one  in  my  condition  he  knew  of  a  suitable  place. 
The  sepulchre!  '  I  cried. 
The  cell,'  he  answered. 
The  cloister,  where  everyone  takes  his  sin  ? ' 

"  '  I  swore  to  your  brother,'  said  the  man,  '  not 
to  betray  the  hermitage  which  he  had  built  for 
himself  in  the  wilderness.  But  since  he  no  longer 
lives,  I  feel  free  to  reveal  the  secret  to  you.' 


Godless  223 

"  *  The  hermitage  that  my  brother  built  in  the 
wilderness  ? '  At  first  I  was  horrified  at  the  thought, 
but  the  more  familiar  I  grew  with  it,  the  lighter  be- 
came my  heart.  Yes,  that  should  be  my  expiation. 
I  resolved  to  live  in  my  brother's  cell  as  hermits 
live,  performing  penances  and  prayers  until  the  mur- 
der was  atoned. 

"  '  Very  good,  friend,'  said  I,  '  take  me  there, 
and  provide  me  with  the  barest  necessities;  then  go, 
go  where  you  will ;  you  are  free ;  all  that  I  ask  is 
that  you  shall  not  betray  my  place  of  abode.  I 
wish  to  be  alone. ' 

"  And  so  he  brought  me  up  here  through  the 
endless  forest  to  this  hut.  I  trust  that  God,  in  His 
mercy,  will  grant  my  brother  a  happy  resurrection, 
but  my  hermit's  life  has  been  more  genuine  than  his. 
I  cannot  say  exactly  how  many  years  I  have  lived 
here;  I  only  know  that  I  am  old.  The  struggle 
which  I  have  made  against  the  temptations  of  the 
world  is  a  great  one  and  it  is  not  yet  over.  God 
has  revealed  to  me  truths  that  have  become  my 
guiding  star,  which  will  lead  me  to  heaven.  The 
flight  from  the  devil,  the  contempt  of  this  world, 
the  mortification  of  the  flesh,  the  longing  for  God, 
the  voluntary  breaking  of  the  fetters — that  is  the 
path  marked  out  for  me.  I  have  been  successful  in 
traversing  nearly  the  whole  of  it,  but  before  this 
last  step  I  stand  in  awe." 

So  much  of  the  manuscript  Wahnfred  retained  in 
his  memory.  There  were  also  many  other  strange, 
incomprehensible  ideas.  Especially  towards  the  end 
w^re  visible  eyer-increasing  signs  of  a  disordered 


224  The  God  Seeker 

brain.  The  outer  world,  his  mode  of  life,  his  for- 
tunes and  various  adventures  during  all  these  years, 
were  hardly  mentioned.  It  was  the  outcry  of  a 
struggling  soul.  Complaints  and  self-reproaches 
were  gradually  silenced,  peace  and  contentment  al- 
ways found  expression ;  the  last  pages  were  written 
in  a  mood  of  ecstasy. 

Wahnfred,  who  was  deeply  impressed  by  the 
"  Confession,  exclaimed  on  finishing  it:  "  This  is 
the  truth!"  It  was  long  past  midnight;  the  fire 
was  nearly  extinguished;  wolves  howled  in  the  for- 
est, but  Wahnfred,  buried  in  his  reading,  did  not 
hear  them. 

"  That  shall  be  my  model!  What  he  expiated 
have  I  also  to  expiate  and  still  more.  I  will  tear 
away  one  fetter  after  another  binding  me  to  this 
earth,  where  I  have  been  tempted  to  sin.  The 
parish  ? — it  is  only  a  community  for  the  enjoyment 
of  earthly  blessings;  no  matter  how  many  sacrifices 
are  made  for  it,  not  one  of  them  will  lift  it  to  God. 
My  family  ? — they  too  must  renounce  this  earthly 
life.  If  I  live  and  care  for  them,  they  will  not  do 
this.  If  I  go  on  in  advance  to  show  them  the  way, 
they  will  follow.  My  wife,  my  child,  ah,  how  I  love 
you  both !  If  it  only  were  not  love  which  held  me 
enchained — love,  the  work  of  the  devil !  These  fet- 
ters must  be  broken  !  I  will  leave  a  sign  behind  me, 
that  we  may  find  each  other  in  heaven." 

Such  were  the  thoughts  of  our  poor  Wahnfred, 
and  although  they  did  not  ripen  to  resolve,  yet  they 
filled  his  distracted  brain. 

We  of  to-day  regard,  if  not  with  scorn,  yet  dubi- 


Godless  225 

ously,  these  religious  rhapsodies,  such  as  our  ances- 
tors, the  seekers  for  heaven,  experienced,  when,  in 
distress  and  with  sore  hearts,  they  sought  refuge 
with  God.  Yet  how  incomparably  more  despicable 
are  those  of  the  present  generation  who,  in  their 
wisdom,  deny  the  very  existence  of  God,  or  that  an 
Almighty  Helper  and  Saviour  of  mankind  is  to  be 
found  in  heaven  or  on  earth!  They  also  declare 
that  man,  a -mere  plaything  of  Chance,  chooses  the 
more  expedient,  if  perhaps  not  the  best  course,  by 
benumbing  his  senses  with  the  pleasures  of  this 
world,  thus  avoiding  too  deep  a  sympathy  with  the 
misery  surrounding  him, — a  misery  from  which 
death  alone  can  release  us.  The  goal  is  the  same 
to-day  as  then,  but  in  that  age  an  intense  ideality 
cast  its  magic  rays  over  the  path  of  the  sons  of 
earth. 

Wahnfred's  path  was  not  the  normal  one,  even  at 
that  time.  His  brain  filled  with  thoughts  of  suicide, 
he  dreamed  himself  into  the  life  of  the  Count  von 
Bechern.  Such  is  the  danger  of  a  solitary  existence. 
At  first,  the  mind  escapes  from  its  ordinary  chan- 
nels, then  falls  into  the  abyss,  dragging  the  body 
with  it. 

A  few  weeks  passed  after  this  unhappy  Christmas 
and  Wahnfred  was  still  thinking  seriously  of  suicide. 
Whenever  the  horrible  vision  in  the  church  at  Tra- 
wies  rose  before  his  eyes  he  found  comfort  in  the 
thought.     "  Blood  for  blood ! "  saith  the  Holy  Writ. 


»s 


CHAPTER  IV 

IN  the  early  days  of  February  the  horizon  became 
so  clear  that  Wahnfred,  standing  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Donnerstein,  could  see  over  the  top  of  the 
forest  the  heathland  with  the ' '  Five  Pines, ' '  the  hill- 
country  beyond  with  its  broad  valleys  and  towns,  as 
well  as  the  whole  region  with  its  rugged  mountain 
ranges  which  he  now  beheld  for  the  first  time. 
A  light  breeze  was  loosening  the  last  flakes  from  the 
trees,  thus  left  standing  bare  and  black  on  the  white 
ground  beneath.  The  sky  was  covered  with  masses 
of  soft  grey  clouds,  the  air  was  moist,  and  as  Wahn- 
fred walked  over  the  snow,  it  broke  under  his  weight. 

The  wolves  had  ceased  their  howling,  for  they 
were  no  longer  hungry.  The  game  which  they  pur- 
sued, being  unable  to  escape,  had  become  easy 
prey.  Wahnfred  had  shot  a  large  deer,  thus  provid- 
ing himself  with  meat  for  some  time. 

During  one  of  these  nights  he  was  suddenly  wak- 
ened from  his  sleep  by  a  peculiar  roaring  that  shook 
the  very  house.  Fearing  a  freshet,  he  sprang  to  his 
feet.  As  he  opened  the  door,  a  strange  whistling 
sound  above  the  roof  met  his  ear.  Still  heavy  with 
sleep,  he  stepped  outside  and  something  like  the 
|ash  of  a  switch  struck  him  in  the  face. 

3^6 


Godless  227 

"  Who  is  there  ?"  he  called  aloud,  but  the  roar- 
ing and  whistling  continued  and  Wahnfred  crossed 
himself  in  terror. 

The  wind  now  raged  in  the  pines  about  the  house, 
now  yonder  in  the  trees  on  the  edge  of  the  forest, 
and  at  last  he  realised  that  it  was  a-  storm.  Retiring 
to  his  hut,  he  built  a  fire;  even  the  flames  flickered 
strangely,  and  in  Wahnfred  the  remembrance  of  his 
deed,  the  consciousness  of  his  misery  were  power- 
fully stirred.  In  the  roaring,  hissing  wind  he  heard 
the  moaning  of  ghosts.  Down  from  the  Trasank 
floated  pale,  misty  phantoms  carrying  torches  giv- 
ing no  light,  only  blue,  tremulous  flames.  One  of 
the  veiled  figures  held  aloft  a  chalice  overflowing 
with  blood,  which,  shaken  by  the  wind,  dripped  to 
the  earth.  Then  followed  dark  forms  bearing  upon 
a  high  black  bier  the  murdered  priest. 

Wahnfred  sprang  to  his  feet.  "  An  end  to  this!  " 
he  cried.  "  I  am  ready !  If  it  be  God's  will,  let  Him 
take  me,  but  my  own  hand  revolts!  I  cannot  be 
guilty  of  more  death  myself!  Oh,  if  one  of  the 
pine-trees  would  only  fall  and  crush  me,  with  a  cry 
of  joy  would  I  die !  Above  the  Ritscher  forest  de- 
struction has  broken  loose;  I  hear  the  branches 
crashing,  the  trunks  breaking.     I  will  go  out." 

And  when  morning  dawned  he  left  the  house. 
He  carried  neither  stick  nor  axe  nor  any  other 
weapon ;  he  often  broke  through  the  snow,  but  ex- 
tricated himself  again  and  finally  he  entered  the  for- 
est. Here  the  storm  was  playing  havoc  in  a  group 
of  trees;  the  branches  were  swaying  as  if  to  ward  off 
the  blows,  the  tops  bending  this  way  and  that  to 


2  28  The  God  Seeker 

elude  them.  One  of  these  trees,  the  largest,  the 
oldest,  the  father  of  the  rest,  snapped  and  fell  with 
a  crash,  plunging  into  the  snow,  completely  bury- 
ing its  trunk. 

The  whole  forest  was  in  an  uproar;  for  a  moment 
there  was  a  lull,  then,  struck  by  the  force  of  the 
wind,  the  trees  braced  themselves  for  another  blow, 
some  resisting,  others  yielding.  They  seemed  to  be 
chasing  and  lashing  each  other  in  turn.  The  ground 
was  strewn  with  trunks,  boughs,  and  cones.  Many 
a  raven's  nest  was  thrown  down  with  the  tree  that 
bore  it,  while  the  birds  fluttered  about,  screeching 
in  their  helplessness  and  despair. 

Through  this  forest  Wahnfred  now  walked.  His 
head  was  bare — ready  for  the  blow.  He  did  not 
linger  nor  did  he  hasten ;  his  pace  was  his  ordinary 
one.  He  did  not  deliberately  seek  the  falling  trees 
nor  did  he  turn  aside  to  avoid  them.  The  twigs  of 
a  breaking  branch  often  grazed  him,  but  he  re- 
mained uninjured.  The  wilder  the  storm  raged,  so 
much  the  more  eager  was  the  light  in  his  eyes.  His 
path  was  frequently  blocked  by  the  fallen  trees,  but 
Wahnfred,  the  death  seeker,  remained  untouched. 

He  forced  his  way  through  underbrush  and 
broken  tree-trunks;  he  crawled  under  and  climbed 
over  them.  Where  they  had  been  torn  up  by  their 
roots  it  was  most  difficult  to  proceed,  and  all  the 
more  for  reason  of  the  soft  snow,  into  which  he 
often  sank  to  his  shoulders.  Seeing  himself  thus 
surrounded  by  the  confusion  of  the  ruined  forest, 
with  the  wind  raging  in  all  its  fury,  he  realised  the 
horror  of  death. 


Godless  229 

He  was  leaning  back  against  a  mass  of  snow,  wip- 
ing the  sweat  from  his  brow,  at  the  same  time  shed- 
ding a  tear  over  his  unhappy  life,  when  suddenly  a 
wolf  approached,  creeping  cautiously  along  a  log 
directly  in  front  of  him.  It  was  a  large,  thin  crea- 
ture, with  matted  hair  and  the  greed  of  hunger  in 
the  fiery  green  eyes.  Catching  sight  of  the  man,  he 
stopped,  pricked  up  his  ears,  and  showed  the  gleam 
of  his  white  teeth.  He  stood  for  a  long  time  mo- 
tionless, his  tail  drawn  in,  his  forepaws  firmly 
braced,  his  eyes  blazing.  As  he  realised  the  utter 
helplessness  of  the  man  in  the  snow,  and  was  about 
to  spring  upon  his  victim,  a  heavy  branch  fell  be- 
tween them.  The  beast  was  terrified,  and  with  a 
few  long  leaps  he  disappeared  in  the  forest. 

Wahnfred,  revived  by  his  fright,  now  gradually 
freed  himself  from  his  precarious  position.  He 
then  proceeded  on  his  way,  his  ears  nearly  deafened 
by  the  continuous  howling  of  the  wind.  Never  in 
his  life  had  he  experienced  such  a  storm.  When  he 
was  a  lad  of  seven  a  hurricane  had  nearly  destroyed 
the  forest  of  Trawies.  On  that  occasion  the  people 
had  said,  quoting  from  an  old  legend:  "  When  the 
trees  are  shaken  violently  by  the  wind,  someone  is 
taking  his  own  life."  And  soon  afterwards  it  was 
discovered  that  a  wood-cutter  in  the  Trasank  valley 
had  hung  himself  to  a  tree.  He  was  not  buried  in 
consecrated  ground,  but  under  the  tree  where  he 
had  met  his  death.  Wahnfred's  grandfather,  the 
carpenter,  then  an  old  man  on  crutches,  had  said  : 

Every  sin  may  be  pardoned  but  that  of  suicide, 
for  suicide  cannot  be  expiated." 


230  The  God  Seeker 

Wahnfred  paused  in  his  walk,  thinking  over  his 
grandfather's  words.  The  great,  measureless  love 
which,  as  a  boy,  he  had  had  for  this  grandfather 
was  reawakened  and  warmed  his  heart. 

His  moods  were  as  changeable  as  storm  and  sun- 
shine, and  since  Heaven  itself  seemed  to  protect  him 
on  this  day,  he  took  it  for  an  omen  and  resolved  to 
live  on  bravely,  to  return  to  the  teachings  of  his 
forefathers,  to  find  therein  his  expiation  and  salva- 
tion, and  to  burn  the  writings  of  the  hermit. 

Making  a  wide  circuit,  he  returned  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  valley,  walking  over  clearings  swept  bare 
by  the  wind.  Suddenly  he  heard  a  pufifing  sound 
which  did  not  seem  to  come  from  the  storm ;  turn- 
ing quickly  he  saw  the  wolf — the  same  he  had  so  re- 
cently encountered — about  to  spring  upon  him. 

He  had  barely  time  to  break  a  branch  from  a 
mouldering  tree  near  by.  He  swung  it  with  both 
arms.  Merciful  Heaven,  what  if  that  horrible  vision 
should  appear  to  paralyse  his  arm!— but  no,  the 
blazing  eyes  of  the  beast  held  him  as  if  by  magic; 
he  waited  a  moment,  and  then,  as  with  all  his  force 
he  let  fall  the  blow,  the  branch  snapped  and  broke. 
The  infuriated  beast  sprang  upon  him,  thirsting  for 
blood.  With  one  turn  of  the  hand,  Wahnfred 
plunged  the  sharp  point  of  the  broken  stick  into  the 
wolf's  throat.  The  animal  reared,  Ihe  blood  gushed 
forth,  and  with  a  death-rattle  it  rolled  over  on  the 
ground. 

Sinking  exhausted  upon  a  log,  Wahnfred  watched 
it  until  its  struggles  were  at  an  end,  then  he  laughed 
aloud.     He  who  had  come  out  in  search  of  death, 


Godless  2^1 

firmly  resolved  upon  his  own  destruction,  had, 
within  sight  of  the  longed-for  goal,  defended  himself 
with  all  his  strength  against  this  beast  of  prey. 

The  howling  of  wolves  and  the  raging  storm  re^ 
minded  him  that  he  must  hasten.  Armed  with  a 
stout  stick,  he  sped  on  his  way  towards  his  place  of 
refuge,  the  wind  from  behind  pushing  him  forward. 
While  descending  the  Christtagberg  he  noticed 
smoke  rising  above  the  trees.  A  moment  later  he 
discovered  his  hermitage  in  flames. 

The  storm  had  broken  one  of  the  pines  and 
thrown  it  upon  the  house,  the  heavy  blow  crushing 
in  the  roof.  The  fragments  had  dropped  upon  the 
burning  embers  on  the  hearth,  the  wind  had  fanned 
the  fire,  and  now  the  flames  were  soaring  into  the 
branches  of  the  trees. 

As  Wahnfred  beheld  this  sight  he  fell  into  a  kind 
of  ecstasy. 

"  At  last  I  know,  O  Lord,"  he  cried,  "  that  Thou 
wouldst  have  me  live!  I  have  sought  death,  but 
with  Thine  Almighty  Arm  hast  Thou  saved  me 
from  it." 

Now  he  wished  to  live  and  could  not.  His  scanty 
store  of  provisions  was  burned  with  his  gun,  the 
rest  of  his  clothing,  and  his  place  of  refuge.  Help- 
less he  stood  there  amid  the  roaring  tempest.  A 
sea  of  soft  snow  surrounded  him  far  and  wide, 
making  escape,  even  with  snow-shoes,  impossible. 
He  was  tired  and  hungry  and  had  nothing  with 
which  to  refresh  himself.  All  at  once  a  beggar! 
Ah,  if  thou  wert  that,  thou  unhappy  man !  The 
trees  would  throw  down  their  cones  to  thee. 


232  The  God  Seeker 

How  futile  all  that  which  thou  hast  planned! 
Heaven  preserves  us  or  destroys  us  as  it  will.  Now 
destroy  thyself! 

He  quenched  his  thirst  with  snow.  From  under 
the  ashes  of  his  hut  he  dug  the  half-charred  remains 
of  the  deer  and  ate  of  them.  The  night  he  passed 
beside  the  glowing  embers. 

The  storm  died  away.  Thousands  of  trees  lay 
about,  still  and  ghastly.  The  mild  air  had  melted 
much  of  the  snow;  should  it  freeze  again,  an  escape 
from  this  forest,  now  grown  so  frightful  and  inhos- 
pitable, might  be  made.  But  where  ?  What  next  ? 
Wahnfred  had  not  yet  asked  himself  this  question. 
At  present  he  must  keep  up  the  fire  and  save  as 
much  as  possible  from  the  remnants  of  food.  The 
odour  of  the  roasted  deer  spread  through  the  forest 
and  the  wolves  came  creeping  up  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  smoking  pile.  Saving  what  he  could,  Wahn- 
fred climbed  into  one  of  the  largest  pine-trees.  And 
there  he  sat  the  entire  night. 

He  bound  himself  to  the  tree  with  a  tough  bough 
to  keep  from  falling  in  his  sleep.  How  palatial  had 
been  his  dwelling  below,  now  a  heap  of  ashes,  in 
comparison  with  this  abode!  His  dangerous  posi- 
tion wonderfully  quickened  his  desire  to  live,  and 
his  hope  yet  to  be  reconciled  with  himself  and  with 
mankind  was  strengthened. 

The  night  was  still  and  cold.  To  keep  from  freez- 
ing he  had  woven  a  mantle  of  boughs  for  protection, 
his  feet  rested  upon  a  branch,  but  sleep  would  not 
come.  The  stars  were  shining  and  the  stillness  which 
lay  over  the  vast  forest  was  almost  appalling. 


Godless  233 

Soon  after  midnight,  as  his  weary  eyelids  were 
beginning  to  droop,  he  fancied  that  he  heard  a  shot. 
He  started,  but  noticing  no  further  sound,  and  as  it 
was  most  improbable  that  any  human  being  could 
be  in  the  vicinity,  he  calmed  himself  and  at  last  fell 
asleep. 


CHAPTER  V 

AT  the  first  gleam  of  dawn  when  the  snow- 
buntings  were  twittering  and  the  sun  was 
spreading  its  golden  rays  over  the  snowy  landscape, 
Wahnfred  was  still  asleep.  _  His  feet  had  slipped 
from  the  branch  and  hung  dangling  from  the  tree. 
The  mantle  of  boughs  protected  the  sleeper,  who 
was  like  one  of  those  animals  that  crawl  into  a  tree 
for  its  winter  rest  and  wakens  with  the  coming  of 
the  spring. 

Wahnfred  lay  there  in  a  refreshing  slumber,  as 
though  in  reality  taking  his  winter  rest,  and  possibly 
he  might  have  slept  on  into  the  spring,  into  his 
eternal  rest,  had  not  a  loud  voice  from  below 
aroused  him. 

"  O  Herr  Gott  !  has  this  one  hung  himself  too  ?  " 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  called  Wahnfred,  hastily  seek- 
ing to  throw  off  his  covering  of  boughs. 

"  Are  you  still  alive  ?  "  asked  the  voice.  "  But, 
carpenter,  what  kind  of  a  house  have  you  got  up 
there  ?" 

It  was  the  voice  of  the  fire  guardian. 

"  Is  it  you,  Gallo  ?  "  With  these  words  Wahn- 
fred climbed  quickly  down  and  sprang  to  the 
ground.     But   when   he   saw   before   him   a   bent, 

234 


Godless  235 

white-haired,  grey-bearded  man,  he  thought  that 
there  must  be  some  mistake. 

"  Why  are  you  looking  at  me  in  that  wild  way, 
Wahnfred  ?  don't  you  know  me  ?  " 

"  How  grey  you  have  grown,  fire  guardian,  since 
we  last  met!  " 

"  I  '11  wager  you  also  would  have  grown  grey  in 
these  last  two  months  down  in  Trawies.  However, 
I  see  you  are  not  living  in  the  most  comfortable  way 
yourself." 

"  Two  days  ago,  during  the  storm,  this  tree 
which  you  see  smouldering  here  fell  upon  my  house, 
setting  it  on  fire.  But  before  we  speak  of  anything 
else,  Gallo,  I  want  to  beg  you  to  forget  my  bitter 
words  in  the  Rabenkirche  —  they  have  troubled  me 
greatly.  And  now  tell  me  what  brings  you  to  this 
place." 

"  Something  that  concerns  yourself,"  answered 
Gallo. 

"  My  wife,  my  child!"  cried  Wahnfred  ex- 
citedly. 

"  They  live  peacefully  with  Bart-from-Tarn.  His 
house,  you  know,  is  high  up  in  the  forest." 

"  How  did  you  get  up  here  in  such  a  storm  ?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it,  but  first  let  us  make 
a  fire  and  eat  our  breakfast.  You  have  probably 
not  eaten  yours  yet." 

"  For  that,  my  dear  Gallo,  I  should  have  needed 
Heaven's  aid." 

'*  Never  fear,  for  I  have  brought  you  something," 
he  said,  throwing  down  a  bundle  under  the  tree. 
"  Mein  Gott\  Wahnfred,  what  if  I  had  not  come!  " 


236  The  God  Seeker 

"  If  you  were  able  to  come  up,  I  could  have  gone 
down." 

"  The  road  from  Trawies  into  the  Ritscher  forest 
is  horrible,  but,  my  friend,  the  road  from  the 
Ritscher  to  Trawies  is  more  horrible!  " 

He  then  began  to  build  a  fire  from  the  fragments 
of  wood  and  to  unpack  bread  and  brandy. 

They  ate  and  were  silent,  as  if  each  were  afraid 
to  hear  what  the  other  had  to  tell. 

"  Why  did  you  not  fetch  the  provisions  from  the 
Rabenkirche  ?"  asked  Gallo  at  last. 

"  Until  my  gun  was  burned  I  could  provide  my- 
self with  food." 

"  I  went  up  several  times,  but  as  I  always  found 
the  things  undisturbed,  I  came  here  to  see  if  you 
really  had  taken  refuge  in  the  hermitage,  or  if  any- 
thing had  happened  to  you.  It  took  me  over  thirty 
hours  to  reach  here  from  Diirbachgraben." 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  you  come  from  Diir- 
bachgraben, fire  guardian  ?  " 

"  One  can  scarcely  conceive  what  harm  this  storm 
has  done,"  said  Gallo.  "  The  gorge  of  the  Miesing 
resembles  a  heap  of  ruins,  so  many  broken  trees  are 
lying  about.  The  Trach  is  blocked  with  them  ;  the 
water  has  risen  in  the  glen,  forming  a  lake  as  far  as 
the  Rabenkirche.  A  huge  tree  has  fallen  over  my 
hut,  but  in  such  a  way  that  it  is  supported  by 
another,  and  we  who  live  down  under  it  are  not  safe 
for  a  single  hour.  How  it  is  farther  over  in  the 
Tarn,  I  do  not  know,  but  a  flight  of  crows  from  that 
direction  makes  me  suspect  that  their  nests  have 
been  disturbed.     How  did  I  get  up  here  through  all 


Godless  237 

this  havoc  ?  I  went  around  over  the  clearing  on  the 
Birstling.  To  be  sure,  I  was  obliged  to  crawl  and 
climb  much  of  the  way,  and  I  was  surprised  to  find 
that  the  Ritscher  forest,  lying  so  high  and  giving 
the  wind  free  course,  had  been  so  affected  by  the 
storm.  I  managed  to  reach  the  precipice,  but  you 
know  the  ladder  is  gone,  so  I  was  obliged  to  walk 
an  hour  out  of  my  way,  or  I  should  have  been  here 
last  evening.  Night  overtook  me  and  I  hid  myself 
in  a  thicket,  building  a  fire  to  keep  from  freezing. 
The  wild  beasts  gave  me  no  peace  and  we  had  some 
serious  encounters, — perhaps  you  heard  the  shot. 
It  was  not  far  from  this  place  and  I  was  astonished 
this  morning  to  find  that  I  was  here  in  the  clearing 
— for  I  recognised  the  group  of  pines — and  that  I 
had  been  so  near  you  all  night.  But  how  you  can 
frighten  a  person  when  you  let  your  feet  dangle 
from  a  tree!  It  flashed  across  me  at  once  that  you 
had  followed  the  example  of  your  predecessor,  the 
pious  hermit.  I  did  not  tell  of  it  at  the  time,  for 
they  would  not  have  buried  him  in  consecrated 
ground,  but  I  found  him  hanging  by  a  rope.  And 
you,  too,  would  rather  not  have  known  how  the 
hermit  had  strangled  himself  with  the  cord  of  his 
rosary." 

The  man  remained  true  to  his  principles,"  mur- 
mured Wahnfred.  "  Gallo,  what  if  you  had  found 
me  in  the  same  condition  ? " 

"  To-day  it  would  be  no  longer  necessary  to  con- 
ceal the  fact." 

"  But  you  would  have  done  so  from  a  sense  of 
honour." 


238  The  God  Seeker 

No  one  has  a  word  to  say  now  about  conse- 
crated ground,"  answered  the  fire  guardian. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  O  my  friend,"  said  Gallo,  "  how  shall  I  ever 
tell  you !  When  we  parted  that  day  in  the  Raben- 
kirche,  you  resented  the  fact  that  we  had  plunged 
you  into  misfortune.  You  came  up  here  to  this 
peaceful  spot,  which  is  like  a  heaven  compared  with 
Trawies,  that  is  now  worse  than  hell.  This  year  we 
have  had  no  Christmas  celebration  and  for  a  long 
time  we  have  heard  no  bells  and  no  organ  music. 
Wahnfred,  you  are  not  to  blame,  nor  are  we;  it  was 
to  be  thus.  Our  earthly  life  has  become  a  horror ; 
our  heaven  has  been  taken  from  us!  Wahnfred, 
our  home  has  been  placed  under  the  ban!  " 

At  these  words  Wahnfred  sprang  from  the  log  and 
stood  there,  a  pale,  rough-bearded  man,  his  eyes 
fixed  upon  the  unhappy  messenger.  At  last  he 
murmured:  "  I  think,  Gallo,  I  must  have  misunder- 
stood you." 

"  You  have  understood  me  perfectly,  Wahnfred; 
I  see  that  by  your  face." 

"  Tell  me  that  the  hurricane  has  torn  up  every 
tree  by  its  roots,  that  it  has  ruined  every  house  in 
Trawies,  that  it  has  killed  the  people  or  buried  them 
alive,  but  do  not  tell  me,  fire  guardian,  that  God 
has  cast  us  off !  " 

"  If  the  curse  were  the  only  thing,"  replied 
Gallo,  "  if  the  church  alone  were  affected,  I  should 
not  be  so  alarmed.  We  would  return  to  pure 
Christianity.  But  the  consequences — the  lawless- 
ness!    And  we  seem  to  be  outlawed  as  well  as  ex- 


Godless  239 

communicated.     Every  one  has  deserted  us,  even 
all  civil  authority." 

Fire  guardian,  this  is  terrible!  " 
"  Already,  my  Wahnfred,  everything  is  in  the 
greatest  confusion.  On  the  one  side,  dire  distress; 
on  the  other,  utter  license;  no  waggon  leaves  the 
place,  no  money  comes  in.  The  boundary  lines  are 
enclosed.  Below,  where  the  Tarn  begins,  the  cord 
which  they  have  stretched  can  be  seen,  wherever 
the  storm  has  not  broken  it.  But  no  storm  will  de- 
stroy the  ban.  The  blacksmith's  apprentice,  being 
out  of  work,  attempted,  to  leave  Trawies;  at  the 
"  Five  Pines  "  he  was  forced  to  return.  The  master 
wood-cutter  from  the  Trasank  valley  started  for 
Neubruck  to  attend  to  his  money ;  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  town  he  was  stoned  to  death.  At  first  the 
people  were  awed,  and  many  lay  prostrate  before 
the  closed  church  door  upon  which  the  interdict 
was  nailed.  Could  you  have  read  it  you  would 
have  been  surprised  to  learn  how  priests  can  curse ! 
But  Sandhok  has  since  torn  down  the  paper.  Upon 
the  hill  where  we  cross  from  the  Freiwild  brook  to 
the  Tarn, — you  know  the  place, — in  the  hollow  of  a 
tree  stood  an  image  of  St.  Nicholas.  '  We  need  no 
bishops  now!  '  the  people  cried,  and  they  destroyed 
the  image.  *  If  we  are  cursed,'  they  continued  to 
cry,  '  then  no  saint  can  help  us !  '  and  they  tore 
down  the  St.  Sebastian  by  the  Trach  and  the  St. 
Catherine  before  the  tavern.  And  the  most  savage 
among  them  even  fell  upon  the  images  of  the  Virgin, 
and  the  words  of  one  man  are  still  ringing  in  my 
ears,  as  he  shouted,  *  If  we  already  belong  to  the 


240  The  God  Seeker 

devil,  we  need  no  cross  and  no  God!  '—and  he  de- 
stroyed the  crucifixes.  To  be  sure  a  few  people 
have  opposed  this  sacrilege.  Mein  Gott !  their  re- 
monstrances have  been  in  vain,  they  have  been 
repulsed  by  the  stronger  party.  Fights  and  quarrels 
prevail,  making  our  existence  terrible." 

"  And  could  you  do  nothing  ? "  asked  the  horri- 
fied Wahnfred. 

"  Carpenter,  the  times  are  not  what  they  were 
when  the  word  of  the  fire  guardian  was  respected. 
However,  I  was  foolish  enough  to  attempt  to  re- 
store order.  '  So  then ! '  they  cried ;  '  the  old  man 
who  has  led  us  into  all  this  has  still  something  to 
say!  To-day  is  not  yesterday,  to-day  the  younger 
and  stronger  men  shall  rule.  A  council!  We  need 
no  council ;  let  each  one  take  what  he  wants.  Down 
with  this  rich  peasant !  We  will  have  our  share  of 
his  possessions!'  At  midnight  they  came  —  a 
rabble  and  mob  such  as  I  did  not  suppose  could  be 
mustered  in  Trawies;  it  seemed  as  if  all  at  once 
every  cutthroat  and  robber  from  far  and  wide  were 
let  loose  there.  At  midnight  they  came  with 
spades,  scythes,  and  pitchforks.  I  started  to  waken 
my  men  and  women, — it  was  unnecessary,  they  had 
already  joined  the  mob,  and  they  attacked  me  with 
my  own  tools.  One  old  woman,  half  blind  and 
lame,  remained  faithful,  going  with  us  when  we 
were  cast  out  from  our  home.  She  helped  me  carry 
my  sick  wife.  My  little  daughter  Sela  was  the 
only  cool-headed  one  among  us;  it  occurred  to  her 
that  we  could  not  go  out  in  the  darkness  without  a 
light,  so  she  hastily  lighted  the  lantern  from  the 


Godless  241 

glowing  embers  on  the  hearth ;  otherwise  we  should 
have  lost,  our  ancestral  fire,  for  I  had  completely 
forgotten  it.  We  went  far  into  the  gorge  of  the 
Diirbach,  where  we  took  refuge  in  a  deserted  hut. 
And  there  we  are  to-day  and  shall  consider  ourselves 
fortunate  if  they  allow  us  even  to  live." 

"  This  is  joyful  news  which  you  bring  me  from 
the  valley,  fire  guardian!  "  said  Wahnfred,  with  the 
irony  of  inward  rage.  "  But  what  of  the  others,  can 
they  do  nothing  ?  " 

"  Who  ?" 

*'  Bart-from-Tarn,  Firnerhans " 

"  Firnerhans!  "  interrupted  Gallo.  Jesus  Maria! 
Carpenter,  you  do  not  know — you  do  not  know 
about  it  yet  ?  " 

What  more  ?  "  asked  Wahnfred. 
But  how  should  you  know  ?  The  fogs  that 
have  come  up  here  from  Trawies,  have  they  not 
been  bloody  ?  Did  not  the  mountains  tremble, 
when  the  horror  occurred  ? — Firnerhans  was  one  of 
them!  " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Gallo  ?  " 

"  Your  cousin,  the  wood-cutter  from  Tarn,  was 
also  one  of  them.  There  were  eleven.  With  eleven 
heads  have  you  been  bought,  Wahnfred !  Con- 
demned and  beheaded  in  the  church — O,  my  God, 
what  a  terrible  world  we  live  in!  " 

With  this  cry  the  old  man  broke  down  completely 
and  covered  his  face  with  his  cloak. 

Wahnfred  stood  like  a  statue  in  the  morning  sun- 
light, his  shadow  lying  across  the  snow.     "  Could 

this   shadow   have   stood    upright,"    says   the   old 

16 


242  The  God  Seeker 

chronicle,  "  it  would  have  reached  to  the  top  of  the 
highest  tree." 

Fire  guardian,"  cried  Wahnfred  suddenly,  fac- 
ing the  old  man  with  threatening  mien  and  clenched 
fists,  "  why  did  you  not  send  for  me  ?  " 

Kill  me  on  the  spot,"  muttered  Gallo.  "  I 
should  like  that  best  of  all.  Not  send  for  you ! 
Even  had  I  wished  to  break  my  oath,  there  was  no 
time.  And  you  could  have  done  nothing.  Tell 
me,  you  are  not  thinking  of  going  to  Trawies  now !  " 

Wahnfred  was  silent. 

"  Take  your  wife  and  child  and  seek  a  new  home 
under  a  new  name!  " 

"  You  may  do  it,  if  you  can!  "  answered   Wahn- 
fred, with  a  strange  ring  in  his  voice. 

I  cannot,"  said  Gallo;  "  I  have  grown  old  upon 
the  land  of  my  forefathers;  I  shall  perish  with  my 
home.  You  are  still  young  enough  to  found  a  home 
upon  another  soil,  to  forget  the  horrors  which  you 
have  not  witnessed,  to  earn  your  bread  by  the  skill 
of  your  hands,  and  to  lead  a  peaceful  life." 

But  Wahnfred  answered :  "  I  will  go  to  Trawies !  " 

"  Oh,   could  you  only  go  as  Moses  went  down 
from  Mt.  Sinai,  with  a  table  of  new  laws!  " 

And  Wahnfred  said :  "  I  will  go  I  " 


CHAPTER  VI 

FROM  this  isolated  mountain  region,  the  two 
men  now  descended.  Their  path  was  blocked, 
as  if  Nature  had  also  pronounced  her  interdict,  or 
as  if  a  good  spirit  would  prevent  their  return  to  the 
cursed  valley.  Through  the  gorges  rushed  and 
foamed  a  wild  torrent,  which  proclaimed  the  break- 
ing up  of  winter;  a  warm  wind  brought  down  a 
gentle  rain  and  the  peaks  of  the  Trasank  were  hid- 
den by  a  fog. 

They  took  a  circuitous  route  towards  the  forest 
of  the  Tarn.  Wahnfred  longed  to  reach  Bart's 
house  to  see  his  wife  and  child.  When  he  perceived 
the  thin  blue  smoke  rising  from  behind  the  trees, 
his  cheeks  glowed  and  his  eyes  sparkled,  as  on  that 
day,  now  far  distant,  when  as  a  lover  he  had  gone  to 
the  remote  valley  of  the  Trasank. 

Suddenly  he  stopped,  and  seizing  his  tumbled 
mass  of  hair  and  rough  beard  with  both  hands,  he 
said:  "  Gallo,  could  I  not  cut  this  off?  " 

"  You  must  love  your  wife  uncommonly  well," 
replied  the  fire  guardian,  who,  in  spite  of  his  seri- 
ousness, always  had  a  spark  of  humour  in  him, ' '  quite 
uncommonly  well,  to  think  so  much  of  having  a 
smooth  face  just  now.    But  I  think  she  will  like  you 

243 


244  The  God  Seeker 

even  with  the  long  beard,  if  that  is  the  only  bad 
habit  you  have  brought  from  your  hermitage." 

"  Oh,  I  am  quite  a  different  being  from  what  I 
was  up  there.  I  feel  so  strangely  warm  and  young, 
my  Gallo,  strangely  young!  How  we  can  freeze  at 
times!  And  how  despairing  and  hard  we  can  be 
against  man  and  how  unthankful  to  God!  This 
rushing  stream  below  us, — you  must  feel  it  too,— it 
will  carry  all  evil  away  from  Trawies.  Spring  is 
coming;  we  shall  plough  our  fields  in  peace,  mow 
our  meadows,  and  graze  our  herds.  It  will  be  again 
as  of  old,  and  we  shall  see  only  the  bright-eyed  trees 
about  us!  Oh,  come,  Gallo,  come!  I  could  shout 
for  joy!" 

Pleased  and  excited  he  dragged  Gallo  with  him 
towards  the  house.  Suddenly  they  noticed  a  man 
hastening  out  to  meet  them,  who  motioned  with  his 
hand  and  called  in  a  low,  warning  voice:  "  Come 
no  farther!     Into  the  woods,  quick!  " 

It  was  Bart  himself,  and  as  he  came  up  to  them 
he  pushed  them  back  into  the  forest. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ? "  asked  the  fire 
guardian. 

"The  bailiffs,"  said  Bart,  almost  breathless. 
"  Wahnfred,  the  bailiffs  are  looking  for  you  !  You 
must  not  be  discovered.  They  have  learned  that 
your  family  are  with  me  and  now  they  have  been 
watching  the  premises  for  days,  rightly  guessing 
that  you  would  return  some  time  to  see  your  wife 
and  child.  They  have  searched  the  house  from  top 
to  bottom,  overturning  everything,  and  a  sentinel 
constantly  stands  before  the  door." 


Godless  245 

"  No  one  shall  block  the  way  to  my  wife!  "  said 
Wahnfred,  starting  forward. 

"  Wahnfred!  "  whispered  the  fire  guardian,  seiz- 
ing him  by  the  arm,  "  you  have  lived  without  her 
for  months,  and  you  can  endure  it  a  short  time 
longer;  do  not  be  foolish!  " 

"  I  will  see  my  wife !  I  will  have  my  child  !  They 
are  in  danger!  Bart-from-Tarn,  speak  the  truth, 
the  bailiffs  are  torturing  them,  carrying  them  off, 
killing  them!" 

"  They  will  not  do  that  because  they  wish  to  use 
them  as  a  decoy  for  you.  But  do  not  increase  their 
peril,  carpenter;  only  think!  you  would  ruin  both 
yourself  and  them.     Go  back  to  the  wilderness! " 

"  Never!" 

"  Then  hide  until  I  call  you.  I  will  do  my  best 
to  deceive  the  bailiffs.  Yesterday  over  on  the 
Karebene  the  skeleton  of  a  man  was  found,  left  by 
the  wolves.  I  will  tell  them  it  is  that  of  the  fugi- 
tive.    Perhaps  they  will  then  go  away." 

"  I  should  think,"  said  the  fire  guardian,  "  that 
the  authorities  might  have  been  satisfied  to  have 
ruined  and  cursed  us  and  not  still  be  searching  for 
the  murderer  in  Trawies.  We  belong  to  the  devil 
now  and  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  them.  Why 
don't  you  tell  them  that,  Bart?  " 

"  We  have  a  right  to  the  protection  of  the  gov- 
ernment," said  Bart,  "  but  excommunication  from 
the  Church  means  being  partially  outlawed,  and  we 
shall  soon  be  entirely  so.  To  tell  the  truth,  my 
friends,  it  is  already  the  case:  we  are  as  free  as  the 
birds  in  the  air." 


246  The  God  Seeker 

"  That  is  no  news  to  me,"  replied  Gallo. 

"  They  have  also  tried  to  burn  my  house,"  related 
Bart  further,  "  but  on  account  of  the  decoy  they 
have  let  it  stand.  They  have  only  plundered  my 
pantry.  They  call  themselves  soldiers  and  are  of 
the  same  race  as  ourselves,  but  the  mercy  they  show- 
is  about  the  size  of  a  toad.  Since  they  consider  us 
damned  they  play  the  very  devil  with  us.  I  should 
prefer  the  Turks." 

"  And  you  speak  the  truth, — they  are  doing  no 
harm  to  my  dear  people  ?"  asked  Wahnfred. 

"  You  would  do  them  the  greatest  injury,"  said 
Bart,  "  were  you  to  go  to  them  now;  the  spies 
would  kill  you  before  their  eyes." 

"  Why  did  not  the  boy  come  with  you,  Bart  ? 
Why  do  you  not  tell  me  that  my  family  are  well  ? 
Keep  nothing  back,  Bart." 

"You  may  believe  me,  carpenter,  I  wish  the  best 
for  you.  I  know  how  we  are  indebted  to  you.  As 
long  as  I  live,  your  people  shall  not  suffer,  so  far  as 
man  can  prevent  it.  What  God  wills,  we  cannot 
prevent." 

"  Let  us  go  now,  Wahnfred,"  said  the  fire  guar- 
dian.  "  I  see  the  gleam  of  a  bayonet  down  there. 
You  cannot  go  back  to  the  Ritscher  forest — you 
would  perish;  so  come  with  me  to  my  hut  in  the 
Durbach  gorge.  I  will  guard  you  as  well  as  I  can, 
and  will  bring  you  news  from  wife  and  child  until 
you  may  see  them.     Come  with  me!  " 

"  No,  friends,  I  cannot.  Bart,  you  pass  in  and 
out  of  your  house ;  you  can  see  them.  Lend  me 
your  clothes,  that  I  may  go  disguised." 


Godless  247 

He  said  it  almost  jubilantly,  but  his  two  com- 
panions warned  him  to  take  no  chances  by  which  he 
might  lose  everything. 

"  Go  then!  Go  quickly,  Bart.  Go  and  tell  them 
that — O  my  God,  what  shall  you  tell  them  ?  that 
they  must  think  of  their  Wahnfred,  must  be  happy, 
must  sleep  as  Wahnfred  will  sleep.  The  winter  is 
going  fast  and  the  first  violet  of  spring  I  will  bring 
to  them.  God  bless  them!"  Sobbing  he  threw 
himself  upon  Bart's  breast.     "  God  bless  my  wife !  " 

What  a  strange  man  !  He  could  almost- forget  his 
family  and  now  all  at  once  he  was  overcome  by  the 
thought  of  them.  With  difficulty  the  fire  guardian 
succeeded  in  getting  him  to  his  hut. 

"  It  is  not  always  good  for  a  man,"  said  Gallo,  on 
the  way,  "  when  his  hands  and  feet  follow  his  heart 
alone.  To-day  he  goes  where  to-morrow  he  would 
not  be;  to-day  he  does  that  which  to-morrow  he 
regrets." 

"It  is  useless  to  talk,  fire  guardian,"  replied 
Wahnfred.  "  No  clever  words  will  help  an  inward 
pain." 

At  last  they  arrived  in  the  gorge.  The  water 
gushing  from  the  clefts  of  the  rocks  and  over  the 
precipices  was  loud  and  boisterous.  It  resembled  a 
brown  flood  pouring  its  rolling  waves  upon  the  un- 
even ground,  its  seething  foam  white  as  snow  where 
it  dashed  over  the  stones.  Here  it  was  digging  its 
way  under  the  roots  of  trees;  there,  battling  with 
some  opposing  obstacle  or  undermining  a  wall  of 
snow,  breaking  down  the  huge  mass  which  for  a 
moment  stemmed  the  flood,  then,  separating  into 


248  The  God  Seeker 

bits,  sent  it  on  its  way  again.  Trunks  of  trees,  their 
limbs  broken  by  the  wind,  came  floating  down  and 
crashed  against  the  rocks.  Masses  of  earth  seemed 
to  come  to  life,  and  were  whirled  along  in  the  rush- 
ing, foaming  stream  by  the  unfettered  forces  of  na- 
ture. Such  is  the  tragic  death  of  the  still  white 
snow.  Must  everything — even  the  gentlest  and 
tenderest  objects — at  some  time  struggle  in  the 
deadly  combat  ?     If  not  in  life,  then  in  death! 

The  fire  guardian  walked  as  rapidly  as  was  possi- 
ble amid  all  the  confusion  of  the  ruined  forest. 
Remembering  that  his  hut  did  not  stand  far  from 
the  water,  he  would  not  have  been  surprised  had 
the  elements  lent  a  helping  hand  to  the  Church  in 
sending  the  curse  upon  them.  They  were  obliged 
to  climb  over  the  precipices,  for  the  path  through 
the  gorge  had  been  destroyed  by  the  flood.  Now 
and  then  an  avalanche  would  come  tearing  down 
beside  them,  bringing  with  it  earth,  trees,  and 
shrubbery.  Upon  a  high  rock  in  the  midst  of  all 
this  chaos  of  rushing  waters  and  broken  trees  stood 
Sela,  the  fire  guardian's  little  daughter.  Her  blue 
gown  shimmered  through  the  dripping  branches, 
and  the  foam  of  the  dashing  waves  wrapped  her  in  a 
soft  mist.  With  one  white  hand  she  was  clinging 
to  an  overhanging  bough,  while  she  bent  over  to 
pick  some  cress  growing  on  the  bank. 

Her  father  called  to  her,  asking  what  she  was  do- 
ing in  that  dangerous  spot.  The  thundering  noise 
drowned  his  voice  and  she  did  not  hear  him.  Her 
little  face  was  glowing  as  on  that  morning  when  she 
had  accompanied  Erlefried  to  the  Midsummer  Fes- 


Godless  H9 

tival ;  her  great  wise  eyes  were  as  calm  and  gentle  as 
if  she  were  standing  in  the  midst  of  a  flower  garden. 
As  she  picked  the  cress,  she  placed  it  in  her  skirt 
which  she  had  gathered  up  in  her  hand.  When  she 
had  plucked  the  last  bit  she  gazed  at  the  wild  scene 
about  her  and  down  into  the  raging  waters,  roaring 
and  plunging  amid  the  ruins  of  the  forest,  but  her 
eyes  remained  calm. 

The  two  men  watched  the  child,  then  Wahnfred, 
taking  the  hand  of  the  fire  guardian,  said:  "  We 
are  not  lost." 

All  at  once  the  girl  discovered  her  father,  and, 
nimble  as  a  chamois,  she  sprang  from  stone  to  stone 
until  she  stood  before  him.  Silent  but  happy,  she 
nestled  close  to  him,  reaching  to  his  breast. 

"  What  art  thou  doing  with  the  cress,  Sela  ?  " 

*'  Mother's  hands  are  hot,"  answered  the  child, 
"  and  her  head  is  feverish.  This  cool  cress  will  be 
good  for  her." 

They  soon  arrived  at  the  hut,  which  was  in  dan- 
ger from  the  approaching  water  below  and  from  the 
broken  tree  suspended  above  the  roof.  The  girl 
went  at  once  to  her  mother  and  whispered :  "Father 
has  come  now."  Then  she  laid  the  cooling  green 
cress  upon  the  hot  hands  and  forehead  of  the  in- 
valid, gave  her  water  to  drink,  and  caressed  her 
cheeks,  regarding  her  tenderly  with  her  gentle  blue 
eyes.  And  this  glance  rested  like  a  soft  spring  sky 
upon  the  wasted  face  of  the  woman,  seeming  to  re- 
fresh her  to  the  depths  of  her  being. 

When  at  last  she  fell  asleep  to  behold  her  child's 
future  in  sunny  dreams,  or  to  prepare   herself  for 


250  The  God  Seeker 

that  everlasting  sleep  which  knows  no  past  and  no 
future,  Sela  slipped  away  on  tiptoe  and  busied 
herself  contentedly  with  putting  things  to  rights 
and  preparing  nourishment  for  the  invalid  when  she 
should  awake. 

The  fire  guardian  had  once  said :  "  So  long  as  the 
last  angel  has  not  left  us,  I  will  not  give  up 
Trawies. 

Yes,  old  man,  he  who  has  a  loving  child  should 
not  despair  of  the  world. 


CHAPTER  VII 

WAHNFRED  remained  for  weeks  in  the  little 
hut  of  the  exiled  fire  guardian.  He  watched 
the  raging  and  then  the  gradual  diminishing  of  the 
flood;  he  watched  the  last  snow-banks  melt  and  the 
meadows  resuming  their  carpet  of  green.  He  also 
watched  the  quiet  sorrow  of  the  fire  guardian  for 
his  dying  wife,  and  the  active  little  nurse,  inexhaus- 
ible,  never  sad,  brightening  the  whole  house  with 
her  expressive  eyes.  She  had  never  betrayed  her 
knowledge  of  the  danger  in  which  they  lived,  and 
her  silence  on  the  subject  her  father  took  to  be  the 
confidence  of  childhood.  So  he  was  much  surprised 
one  day,  when  outside  of  the  hut  Sela  said  to  him : 
"  Mother  says  she  will  die,  father,  if  thou  dost  not 
laugh  again." 

He  did  not  laugh ;  he  burst  into  tears  on  hearing 
this  from  his  child.  And  Sela  wept  with  him,  and 
so  bitterly  that  she  was  convulsed  with  sobs,  and 
she  struggled  in  vain  to  check  the  tears  in  which  her 
long-repressed  sorrow  now  found  relief. 

She  finally  went  to  the  spring  and  bathed  her  face 
with  cold  water.  She  plucked  a  daisy,  carried  it 
into  the  hut,  and,  laying  it  on  her  mother's  breast, 
said  :  "  One  has  come  already!  "  She  then  resumed 

251 


252  The  God  Seeker 

her  cheerful  mien,  her  eyes  were  once  more  calm, 
and  the  peace  of  childhood  seemed  again  to  take 
possession  of  her  soul. 

Wahnfred  watched  this  woman  and  child  and 
thought  of  his  own  dear  ones.  He  had  no  suspicion 
that  his  wife  also  was  declining,  faithfully  nursed 
by  his  little  son.  The  carpenter's  wife  had  grieved 
sorely  over  the  flight  and  danger  of  her  husband. 
She  had  confided  to  no  one  how  her  feeling  of  home- 
lessness  and  her  anxiety  were  gnawing  at  her  very 
life,  and  at  last  she  fell  ill  and  was  now  failing  rapidly. 

The  fire  guardian  was  well  aware  of  all  this,  but 
he  dared  not  reveal  it  to  Wahnfred,  fearing  that  he 
would  hasten  to  his  dying  wife  and  thus  double  her 
danger.  Gallo  always  returned  from  his  visits  to 
Bart's  house  with  favourable  news;  and  Mistress 
Wahnfred  had  herself  begged  him  to  conceal  her 
condition  from  her  husband,  that  he  might  keep 
away  and  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  For 
the  spies  still  guarded  the  house  more  closely  than 
ever,  taking  it  for  granted  that  the  illness  of  the  wife 
would  entice  the  husband  to  her  side. 

These  heartless  wretches  had  the  craftiness  to 
reckon  upon  human  emotions  in  others.  Whenever 
a  stranger — a  pedlar,  a  wood-cutter,  or  a  beggar — 
attempted  to  enter  the  house,  he  was  thoroughly 
searched  and  knocked  about  so  ruthlessly  that  he 
had  no  desire  to  return.  Each  bailiff  had  received 
a  minute  description  of  the  fugitive;  one  of  them 
had  known  the  man  personally  in  his  younger  days. 
Wahnfred's  head  was  to  be  the  price  of  their  liberty. 
The  one  who  caught  him  was  from  that  moment  to 


Godless  253 

he  freed  from  military  service.  They  were  all 
heavily  armed,  for  they  realised  that  they  were  in 
the  land  of  the  enemy.  They  also  knew  that  in  con- 
•sequence  of  the  ban  these  woodspeople  were  de- 
serted by  all  outside. 

And  so  Gallo,  on  returning  from  his  visits,  always 
reported  that  the  bailiffs  were  still  there,  and  that 
Mistress  Wahnfred  had  sent  her  greetings  and  word 
that  her  husband  should  run  into  no  danger  on  her 
account.  All  the  same,  Wahnfred  was  constantly 
planning  some  way  by  which  he  could  go  disguised 
to  his  family;  the  thought  had  even  occurred  to 
him  to  raise  a  company  of  volunteers  in  Trawies  and 
to  take  the  house  by  storm. 

"  So  far,"  said  Gallo,  "  you  have  allowed  me  to 
dissuade  you  from  going  to  Trawies,  and  you  need 
not  regret  it.  You  have  heard  the  kind  of  news 
that  comes  to  us  in  the  Diirbach  gorge ;  you  have 
heard  it,  yet  you  can  form  no  idea  of  the  condition 
of  the  people  in  Trawies  now.  They  are  plundering 
houses  and  ravishing  women,  but  for  a  dying  woman 
they  do  nothing." 

"  For  a  dying  woman!  "  said  Wahnfred,  starting 
from  his  seat.     "  What  do  you  mean  ? " 

For  a  moment  the  fire  guardian  was  at  a  loss  how 
to  answer. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Gallo  ?  A  dying  woman  ?" 

"  You  see,  do  you  not,  that  my  wife  is  dying  and 
that  we  have  no  one  to  help  us  ?  " 

"  You  are  keeping  something  from  me,  Gallo,  and 
I  will  know  this  moment  the  exact  condition  of  my 
wife!" 


2  54  The  God  Seeker 

"You  can  imagine  that  she  is  not  very  happy, 
Wahnfred;  that  this  terrible  trouble  must  neces- 
sarily affect  a  delicate  woman ;  that  would  not  sur- 
prise you  ? '  * 

"  She  is  ill!  "  cried  Wahnfred  ;  "  you  know  more 
than  you  will  tell.  Gallo,  do  not  deceive  me!  I 
will  go  to  her  now,  if  it  costs  me  my  life!  Only  I 
must  know  first  how  I  am  to  find  her." 

"  We  should  be  prepared  for  everything  in  this 
world,"  answered  Gallo. 

"  She  is  dead!  "  cried  Wahnfred. 

"  What  are  you  saying,  carpenter  ?  Nothing  of 
the  kind  has  yet  occurred.  But  as  I  do  not  wish 
to  take  the  responsibility  of  keeping  it  from  you 
longer:  if  you  would  see  her  once  more,  then  you 
certainly  cannot  wait  until  the  bailiffs  are  gone." 

"  I  will  go  to  her  now,"  said  Wahnfred  with  de- 
cision. "  Nothing  shall  prevent  me.  And  if  neces- 
sary, I  will  force  my  way  with  my  knife  to  my  sick 
wife." 

"  We  will  try  something  else.  Bart  and  I  have 
talked  it  all  over.  We  will  carry  a  bale  of  straw  into 
the  house," 

"  Why  is  it  possible  all  at  once  to  do  that  which 
you  would  never  consent  to  do  before?"  cried 
Wahnfred  excitedly.  "Gallo,  had  you  kept  it  from 
me  too  long,  I  could  never  have  forgiven  you !  " 

They  started  immediately  and  ascended  the 
mountain,  Wahnfred  far  in  advance  of  the  aged 
man.  He  had  wished  to  carry  the  first  violet  to 
his  wife,  and  now  he  trod  upon  the  young  flowers; 
but  his  step  was  so  light  and  fleet  that  he  scarcely 


Godless  255 

injured  these  blue  eyes  of  the  reawakening  earth. 
He  flew  rather  than  walked,  and  in  vain  the  fire 
guardian  called  after  him  not  to  run  blindly  into 
danger.  Upon  the  summit  they  were  met  by 
Bart. 

"Ah,  you  have  come  already,  carpenter!"  he 
cried. 

"  Bart,"  said  Wahnfred,  seizing  him  by  the  hand 
and  trying  to  urge  him  forward,  "  Bart,  we  have 
no  time  to  lose.  You  have  taken  my  wife  into  your 
house  and  for  her  sake  have  endured  the  presence 
of  the  bailiffs.  You  have  been  a  good  friend  to  us, 
so  you  will  tell  me  honestly  how  I  shall  find  her." 

She  is  still  alive,"  answered  Bart,  "  and  yonder 
in  the  thicket  the  bale  of  straw  is  ready  for  you." 

It  was  made  out  of  the  longest  corn-stalks  of  the 
preceding  summer.  Wahnfred  opened  it  and 
crawled  inside,  the  men  tying  it  together  over  him. 
Then,  placing  it  upon  two  carrying-poles,  they  bore 
it  towards  the  house  in  the  Tarn. 

"  It  is  fortunate,"  said  Bart,  "  that  the  spies  went 
yesterday  to  a  shooting-match  and  have  not  yet  re- 
turned, with  the  exception  of  one,  who  sits  before 
the  door  carving  for  his  amusement  all  sorts  of  fig- 
ures on  the  wall.  To  deceive  him,  I  have  already 
had  a  few  bales  of  straw  carried  in  this  morning.  He 
thrust  his  spear  into  the  first  and  demanded  of  us 
what  we  were  carrying.  Then  I  asked  him  if  he  did 
not  know  a  bale  of  straw  when  he  saw  it.  If  not, 
he  might  go  to  work  and  thrash  it  out  himself, 
bring  it  into  the  house,  and  pile  it  up  in  the  loft. 
Of  course  he  had  no  idea  of  working,  so  he  settled 


256  The  God  Seeker 

back  on  his  bench,  asking  no  questions  when  the 
second  bale  was  brought  in." 

"Does  she  know  that  I  am  coming?"  asked 
Wahnfred. 

"  Be  quiet,  carpenter,  we  are  close  to  the  house." 
They    carried    their    burden    across    the    grass, 
through  the  little  yard,  where  the  spring  was  splash- 
ing into  the  trough ;  they  carried  it  slowly,  uncon- 
cernedly towards  the  door. 

The  bailiff  was  lounging  on  his  bench,  with  a  dish 
of  cream  before  him,  to  which  he  had  helped  him- 
self in  the  pantry.  He  was  staring  angrily  at  the  re- 
mainder of  the  delicious  viand,  for  he  wished  to  eat 
more  of  it,  yet  his  appetite  was  satisfied.  When  he 
saw  the  men  approaching  with  the  bale  of  straw,  his 
duty  all  at  once  occurred  to  him. 

"  Is  that  straw  again  ?  "  he  demanded  crossly. 
"  Yes,  soldier,"  answered  Bart.     "  You  must  en- 
joy standing  sentinel  over  straw !  " 

"  Is  that  all  straw  ?"  cried  the  bailiff,  striking 
the  bale  with  his  spear. 

Instead  of    feeling  alarm,   Bart  lost  his   temper. 
•"  Why  are  you  always  suspecting  my  straw  ?  "  he 
cried. 

"  Put  it  down!  "  snarled  the  soldier. 
"  Oh,  can't  you  understand  a  joke  ?"  said  the  fire 
guardian  appeasingly. 

Notwithstanding,  the  bailiff  tore  the  bundle  from 
the  poles  and  broke  it  open.  The  men  sought  to 
force  him  back,  but  he  threatened  with  his  gun,  at 
the  same  time  stirring  up  the  straw.  As  it  fell  apart, 
Wahnired  sprang  out,  and  seizing  the  frightened, 


Godless  257 

reeling  soldier  by  the  throat,  exclaimed:  "  So  this 
is  how  I  have  to  fight  my  way  to  my  dying  wife ! " 
And  half  strangling  the  man  he  flung  him  against 
the  wall. 

He  rushed  into  the  house  and  entered  the  inner 
room.  This  was  dimly  lighted,  the  little  windows 
being  thickly  covered.  Upon  the  table  burned  a 
red  taper.  Mistress  Bart,  forgetting  the  curse,  had 
brought  out  the  crucifix  which  she  had  saved  from 
the  plunderers.  This  old  wooden  cross  had  stood 
by  the  deathbeds  of  many  members  of  her  own 
family,  and  it  should  now  comfort  her  dear  com- 
panion, who  for  hours  had  been  struggling  with 
death. 

"  Oh,  my  merciful  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  Mistress 
Bart  had  prayed  before  the  crucifix,  "  we  are  Thine, 
we  will  never  leave  Thee.  Wicked  men  would  tear 
us  from  Thee,  but  we  embrace  Thy  head  with  its 
crown  of  thorns,  we  flee  to  Thy  sacred  wounds! 
Oh,  loosen  Thine  arm  from  the  cross  and  hold  us 
fast,  us  poor  sinners,  for  whom  Thou  hast  died  !  Do 
not  desert  us  when  man  casts  us  out!  Stand  by  us 
when  the  evil  one  would  destroy  us!  Help  us  in 
life,  help  us  in  death,  help  us,  my  Jesus!" 

In  the  dark  corner  of  the  room  by  the  table  two 
little  white  hands  were  uplifted  in  prayer.  Thej 
belonged  to  Erlefried,  who  was  kneeling  there,  ex- 
hausted from  his  night  watches  and  weeping,  and 
who  knew  nothing  else  to  do  for  his  mother  than  to 
pray  before  the  image  of  the  Saviour. 

Close  by  on  a  low  bed  lay  the  sick  woman,  her 
face   white   as   wax   ble^ajched   by   the   sup.      TJjai 


258  The  God  Seeker 

peculiar  radiance  which  rests  like  a  reflection  of  youth 
upon  the  countenance  of  the  dying,  played  about 
her  head.  Her  eyes  were  open  and  she  seemed  to 
be  looking  towards  the  door.  She  had  begged  him 
not  to  come  and  yet  she  hoped  that  he  would  come. 

She  did  not  hear  the  noise  without,  but  as  the 
door  now  opened,  her  face  brightened  even  before 
she  saw  him.  Wahnfred  stopped,  terrified.  The 
awfulness  of  death  calmed  his  excited  mood.  Erie- 
fried  advanced  shyly  and  anxiously,  as  though  un- 
certain whether  it  were  his  father  or  a  stranger. 
Wahnfred  laid  his  hand  upon  the  boy's  head  and 
gazed  at  his  wife.  He  was  rooted  to  the  spot,  as  if 
here  also  a  sentinel  were  standing;  but  this  one 
could  not  be  flung  aside  like  the  other. 

His  wife,  looking  up  at  him  with  unspeakable  sor- 
row, tried  to  smile.  At  last  she  moved  her  lips: 
"  Wahnfred,  Wahnfred  !  take  thy  hand  off  the  boy, 
I  implore  thee!  " 

Her  words  were  like  a  knife  through  his  heart; 
quickly  he  withdrew  his  hand ;  he  felt  as  if  he  must 
flee.  She  made  a  slight  movement,  motioning  to 
him  to  stay  and  to  lay  his  hand  in  hers. 

"  I  woke  thee,  my  Wahnfred,  that  night  when 
the  clock  struck  one.  Thou  hast  been  a  long  time 
away  from  me." 

"  Never,"  he  replied,  his  voice  choking  with  sobs, 
"  never  will  I  leave  thee  again !  " 

If  only  I  need  not  leave  thee  so  soon!  "  she 
said.  "  I  would  that  I  might  stay  with  thee,  for 
thou  hast  been  most  unhappy." 

He  fell  on  his  knees  beside  her  bed  and  pressing 


Godless  259 

his  face  against  her  hand  wept  aloud.  Her  eyes 
rested  earnestly  and  lovingly  upon  him  and  a  tear 
trembled  under  her  lashes. 

"  I  am  thankful,  Wahnfred,  that  thou  canst 
weep,"  she  said  softly;  "  these  tears  are  precious 
pearls  which  I  shall  carry  with  me  into  eternity. 
Theywilllightthe  dark  way  and  I  shall  find  my  God." 

"  Take  me  with  thee,  dearest  wife,  take  me  with 
thee!" 

"  No,  Wahnfred,  thou  must  stay  a  while  longer 
on  the  earth  and  atone  for  what  thou  hast  done. 
And  thou  must  not  despair!  Do  not  mind  the 
curse  of  the  Church,  but  the  curse  from  thine  own 
hand  thou  must  remove !  I  know  thou  didst  take 
the  oath  to  do  the  deed,  and  thy  intentions  were 
not  evil.  Thou  art  not  a  wicked  man,  my  Wahn- 
fred, and  wilt  yet  redeem  thyself.  Only  do  not  for- 
get to  say  to  our  Erlefried :  Sin  will  always  be  sin  ; 
even  though  it  be  done  that  good  may  come,  it  will 
always  be  sin  !  " 

"  I  promise  thee,  my  wife,  I  promise  thee  as 
many  times  as  I  have  hairs  on  my  head,  that  I  will 
do  penance  for  everything  and  make  reparation  as 
far  as  I  am  able.  By  this  marriage  ring,  Marie,  I 
pledge  my  faith  to  thee  once  more ! " 

"  Think  of  our  child  ;  besides  that  I  ask  nothing. 
Do  not  mourn  for  me.  Thou  hast  always  been  a 
loving  husband  and  my  life  with  thee  has  been  a 
paradise.  When  thou  hast  finished  thy  task  and 
canst  lay  thyself  to  rest,  then  I  will  come  to  thee 
and  together  we  will  go  to  our  Lord.  Dost  thou 
hear  the  sweet  singing  ?  " 


'26o  The  God  Seeker 

She  listened ;  he  tried  to  listen  also,  but  heard 
only  the  gnawing  of  a  wood-beetle  in  the  wall. 

"  That  means  the  death  hour!  "  whispered  Mis- 
tress Bart  to  her  husband,  who  was  standing  by  the 
door. 

"  How  wonderfully  they  sing!"  murmured  the 
invalid.  "  It  is  the  angels'  choir.  The  room  is  so 
dark.  Will  it  never  be  day  ?  I  should  so  like  to  see 
the  beloved  light  once  more!  " 

They  removed  the  covering  from  the  windows, 
letting  in  a  flood  of  sunlight.  She  gazed  at  it 
fixedly  as  though  wondering  if  that  were  the  light 
she  had  meant.  Finally  her  lids  drooped  and  she 
slept.  Wahnfred  knelt  by  her  side,  holding  his  boy 
pressed  close  to  him,  his  eyes  riveted  upon  the 
slumberer. 

The  last  gleam  of  sunlight  had  long  since  van- 
ished ;  an  oil  lamp  had  been  placed  in  the  room,  its 
soft  light  flickering  on  the  wall.  The  sick  woman 
was  still  asleep,  Wahnfred  sitting  by  her  side, 
watching. 

After  midnight  she  suddenly  started.  "  Wake 
up !  Wake  up  !  "  she  cried  in  a  strong,  clear  voice. 
"  It  has  struck  one!  " 

"Art  thou  better,  Marie?"  asked  Wahnfred 
softly,  bending  his  face  over  hers.  "Thou  hast 
slept  well." 

Her  eyes  were  open,  but  he  did  not  know  whether 
she  saw  him.  Her  breathing,  at  first  scarcely  audi- 
ble, quickened,  then  almost  ceased.  Mistress  Bart, 
who  had  not  left  the  bedside,  lighted  with  tremb- 
ling hands  the  red  taper  and  murmured  a  prayer.' 


Godless  261 

Wahnfred  sprang  to  his  feet,  crying:  "  What  is  it  ? 
Erlefried!  Erlefried !  " 

"  Let  him  sleep,"  said  the  woman.  And  then, 
turning  towards  the  bed:  "  Beloved  sister,  go  with 
God !  Pray  for  us  in  heaven ! — Close  her  eyes, 
Wahnfred!     It  is  all  over !  " 


CHAPTER   VIII 

THE  house  in  the  Tarn  was  once  more  free.  The 
sentinel,  at  first  stunned  by  his  fall,  lay  for  a 
while  senseless.  Bart  disarmed  him  and  concealed 
the  weapons;  he  then  examined  the  carving  on  the 
wall,  which  the  soldier  had  just  finished.  It  was  of 
a  deer  running,  pursued  by  dogs  and  hunters.  In 
the  Tarn  forest  still  stands  a  house  on  the  walls  of 
which  may  be  seen  the  remnants  of  an  old  carving, 
said  to  be  the  same  made  by  the  sentinel  while  on 
the  watch  for  the  outcast,  Wahnfred. 

When  the  soldier  recovered  consciousness  and  be- 
came aware  that  he  was  without  his  weapons,  he 
slunk  away  and  disappeared. 

Upon  a  patch  of  green  meadow  it  the  edge  of  the 
forest,  almost  on  the  very  spot  where  in  the  winter 
Erlefried  had  made  the  snow-image  of  his  father, 
stood  Bart  and  Wahnfred,  measuring  a  little  place 
for  a  grave.  Dew-drops  sparkled  on  the  grass,  the 
birds  were  holding  high  carnival  in  the  trees,  some 
-twittering  and  chirping,  others  straining  their  little 
throats  in  a  loud,  jubilant  song.  In  the  valleys  the 
morning  mists  were  merging  into  a  soft,  gauze-like 
veil,  which  floated  over  mountains  and  trees,  then 
rose  and  melted  in  the  blue  ether.     Up  here  on  the 

262 


Godless  263 

heights,  the  sun  already  shone  brightly  from  a 
cloudless  sky.  A  cool  breath,  laden  with  spicy  per- 
fumes from  the  budding  forest,  with  its  young 
plants  and  flowers,  was  wafted  through  the  sunlit 
trees  and  across  the  meadow. 

As  Bart  was  about  to  thrust  his  spade  into  the 
ground,  Wahnfred  laid  his  hand  upon  the  tool,  say- 
ing: "  Let  us  save  the  turf  and  take  it  up  carefully, 
that  we  may  lay  it  down  again  for  a  cover.  It  will 
soon  be  green  once  more,  and  strangers  must  not 
know  where  she  lies." 

"  That  can  be  done  very  easily,"  answered  Bart, 
cutting  out  a  square  of  turf.  Then  Wahnfred  also 
took  a  spade  and  commenced  to  dig.  The  root  of  a 
pine  standing  near  by  was  stretched  directly  across 
the  grave. 

"  We  must  chop  that  away,"  said  Bart. 

"  I  would  rather  leave  it  as  it  is  and  dig  around 
and  under  it,"  replied  the  carpenter.  "  The  forest 
shall  protect  her  with  its  arm." 

They  then  proceeded  with  their  work,  neither 
speaking  a  word.  Not  until  they  stood  shoulder- 
deep  in  the  grave  and  the  drops  of  sweat  covered 
Bart's  forehead,  did  he  stop  for  a  moment,  resting 
his  elbows  upon  the  handle  of  his  spade,  to  watch 
Wahnfred  digging. 

"  Take  your  time,"  he  said  ;  "  we  shall  finish  early 
enough." 

"  The  world  shall  have  her  no  longer,"  muttered 
Wahnfred. 

"  You  must  not  torment  yourself,  carpenter!  In 
my  house  she  suffered  no  harm  and  I  loved  her  like 


264  The  God  Seeker 

a  sister.  And  you  too,  Wahnfred,  you  know  where 
your  home  is,  yours  and  Erlefried's.  So  long  as  I 
have  a  home,  you  belong  to  us.  I  think  you  will 
be  safer  now.  Let  come  what  may  to  Trawies,  we 
three,  you,  the  fire  guardian,  and  I,  will  stand  to- 
gether. And  with  such  spring  weather  as  we  have 
to-day,  one  would  think  that  all  must  come  right 
again." 

"  It  will,"  answered  the  carpenter,  still  digging. 
And  he  would  have  kept  on  until  he  reached  the 
heart  of  creation,  had  not  a  clear  voice,  crying, 
"  Father!  "  recalled  him  to  himself. 

Above  in  the  bright  sunlight  stood  Erlefried,  At 
first  he  gazed  with  horror  into  the  dark  depths  be- 
low him,  then  he  repeated  his  message:  Mistress 
Bart  had  sent  word  that  Wahnfred  should  think  of 
himself  and  come  to  dinner.  "  The  others  have 
already  eaten,"  said  the  boy,  "  but  I  am  waiting  for 
thee." 

So  the  man  emerged  from  the  grave  and  taking 
Erlefried's  hand  they  entered  the  house. 

At  the  burial-service  on  the  following  day  no  one 
was  present  besides  the  few  members  of  the  family 
and  the  fire  guardian,  who  had  brought  with  him  in 
a  lantern  a  light  from  the  ancestral  fire,  which,  as 
messenger  from  the  olden  days,  should  accompany 
the  dead  woman  to  the  grave.  She  lay  upon  a  bier, 
dressed  in  a  long  white  robe,  for  which  Mistress 
Bart  had  contributed  her  finest  linen.  The  hands 
were  not  folded  across  her  breast,  but  lying  natur- 
ally at  her  sides,  for  she  no  longer  prayed  —  she 
rested. 


Godless  265 

No  physician  had  given  a  certificate  of  death ;  Bart 
had  felt  of  her  cold,  stiff  hand  and  said:  "  She  will 
never  wake  again."  They  had  no  priest  to  pro- 
nounce a  blessing;  the  fire  guardian  placed  a  cross 
of  evergreen  upon  her  brow,  saying:  "  *  Blessed  are 
the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord,'  for  they  are  freed 
from  sin.  We  shall  follow  thee,  dear  sister,  when 
we  have  discharged  our  duty  on  earth ;  then  shall 
we  enter  our  eternal  rest." 

They  laid  the  body  into  the  coffin,  which  was 
rough  and  crude  and  evidently  not  made  by  the 
carpenter. 

Wahnfred  once  more  gently  stroked  the  right 
hand  of  his  wife,  saying:  "  Sleep  sweetly!  Sleep 
sweetly!     I  will  not  say  good-bye." 

And  then  Bart  closed  the  lid  and  nailed  it  down. 
Hearing  the  noise,  Erlefried  hastened  up  with  some 
violets  in  his  hand  to  lay  upon  his  mother's  breast. 

"It  is  too  late,  child,"  said  Bart,  and  his  wife 
added:  "  Besides,  it  is  better  not  to  place  offerings 
in  a  coffin,  for  the  saying  is,  that  one  must  mourn 
until  they  have  decayed." 

"  Let  us  carry  her  now  to  her  resting-place,"  said 
the  fire  guardian,  taking  up  the  poles.  "  We  have 
loved  her,  but  God  has  loved  her  more  and  He  has 
taken  her  to  to  Himself.     Help  me,  Bart!" 

They  bore  the  burden  out  of  the  house  and  across 
the  meadow,  Mistress  Bart  carrying  the  light  from 
the  fire,  which  had  been  so  sacredly  preserved  and 
handed  down  by  their  ancestors. 

As  they  approached  the  grave,  the  bearers  started 
back  in  cdarm.     A  pair   of   little  ashen-grey  birds 


266  The  God  Seeker 

fluttered  out  and  away  into  the  bushes;  they  were 
two  young  snow-buntings  that  had  been  seeking  for 
insects.  No  grave  is  so  deep  that  life  cannot  enter 
it! 

They  lowered  the  cofifin  as  quickly  as  possible, 
throwing  in  earth  with  their  hands  and  shovels  until 
the  last  bit  of  white  was  covered.  After  they  had 
replaced  the  sod,  they  brushed  away  the  loose  dirt 
with  twigs,  leaving  scarcely  a  trace  of  the  newly 
made  grave. 

Then  Wahnfred,  turning  towards  the  others, 
said:  "  Now  I  want  to  thank  you;  you,  Bart-from- 
Tarn,  for  the  friendship  shown  my  wife  under  your 
roof  and  at  your  table;  and  you,  Mistress  Bart,  for 
the  love  and  tenderness  with  which  you  have  nursed 
and  comforted  her;  and  you,  other  inmates  of  the 
house,  I  thank  for  all  that  you  have  done  for  her. 
I  thank  you,  Gallo,  for  bringing  up  the  fire  and 
for  helping  me  to  bury  her.  And  now,"  he  said, 
seizing  Bart  by  the  hand,  "  I  will  ask  you  to  keep 
my  boy  and  to  be  a  friend  and  father  to  him  when  I 
am  not  here.     I  am  going  down  to  Trawies ! ' ' 

After  shaking  hands  with  them  all,  he  pressed  his 
boy  to  his  heart  and,  turning  away  from  the  grave, 
walked  rapidly  towards  the  valley. 

The  people  dispersed,  the  fire  guardian  to  his 
home,  the  others  into  the  house,  which  now  seemed 
large  and  empty. 

Only  one  person  remained  upon  the  grave — Erie- 
fried.  He  stood  alone,  still  holding  in  his  hand  the 
little  bouquet  of  violets  intended  for  his  mother. 
Why  had  he  not  been  allowed  to  lay  it  upon  her 


Godless  267 

breast  ?  For  would  he  not  mourn  much  longer  than 
it  would  take  them  to  wither  and  die  ?  And  who 
had  asked  him  whether  he  wished  to  live  on  after 
he  had  ceased  to  mourn  for  his  dead  mother  ? 

Such  were  the  boy's  thoughts;  he  felt  something 
like  resentment  towards  Bart  and  his  wife  and  he 
did  not  wish  to  re-enter  the  house.  He  could 
hardly  realise  that  his  mother  lay  beneath  him, 
buried  in  the  moist  earth.  As  he  stood  thus,  deli- 
cate and  slender  in  physique,  his  thick  curls  throw- 
ing a  shadow  over  his  face,  increasing  its  seriousness, 
he  was  no  longer  a  child.  The  light  agility  of  the 
boy  was  gone  and  new  presentiments  and  thoughts, 
far  beyond  his  age,  were  imprinted  upon  his  brow. 

This  one  winter  had  developed  him  more  than 
years  filled  with  the  ordinary  events  of  a  happy 
boyhood.  Hard  experiences  age  a  man  and  de- 
velop a  boy  quickly.  Our  bodies  move  in  that  aim- 
less, wild  freedom  which  we  call  the  exuberance  of 
childhood  only  so  long  as  they  are  not  held  in  re- 
straint by  the  brain.  When  this,  by  time,  training, 
or  experience,  is  strong  enough  to  control  the  body, 
then  manhood  begins.  Erlefried  pondered  and 
brooded,  then  listened  to  the  singing  of  the  birds. 

' '  You  are  happy,"  he  thought.  '  *  Ah,  could  I  only 
know  what  you  are  saying  to  one  another!  My 
mother  once  told  me  that  in  order  to  understand  the 
song  of  birds,  one  must  touch  the  flesh  of  a  certain 
dragon,  but  she  also  said  that  it  was  a  monster,  de- 
vouring everyone  who  crossed  its  path." 

Stop,  my  boy!  That  dragon,  by  which  the  Ger- 
man myth  has  symbolised  earthly  passion,  has  not 


268  The  God  Seeker 

yet  touched  thee !  The  birds  in  the  branches  are 
perhaps  angels,  telling  each  other  how  they  have 
come  down  from  heaven,  where  to-day  a  great  festi- 
val is  being  held.  For  a  sufferer,  a  faithful,  loving 
wife  and  mother,  robed  in  snow5'^  white,  has  arrived 
there.  The  flower-bells  have  been  ringing  in  the 
garden  of  paradise,  and  the  archangel  is  awaiting 
the  newcomer  at  the  golden  gates,  to  lead  her,  ac- 
companied by  virgins  and  martyrs,  to  Mary,  the 
Queen  of  Heaven,  who  embraces  her,  and,  placing  a 
crown  of  roses  upon  her  head,  gives  her  the  choic- 
est seat  at  her  feet. 

This  was  the  song  that  the  birds  sang  to  little 
Erlefried  as  he  stood  musing  upon  his  mother's 
grave.  It  was  a  deer  that  finally  aroused  him  from 
his  dreams.  The  creature  was  standing  among  the 
trees,  looking  at  the  boy,  who  was  now  a  child  again. 

"  Why  dost  thou  not  run  away  ?  "  cried  Erlefried, 
almost  threateningly.  "Dost  thou  not  realise  that  I 
am  a  man,  who  might  shoot  thee  ?" 

The  animal,  with  head  erect,  trotted  a  few  paces 
nearer;  how  defiantly  he  shook  his  antlers  at  the 
boy! 

"  Go,"  said  the  lad,  "  I  will  not  harm  thee!  Let 
us  be  good  friends  to-day !  For  see,  my  mother  has 
just  died ! " 

The  deer  turned  suddenly  and  darted  away 
through  the  crackling  underbrush,  startled  by  the 
sound  of  someone  approaching. 

Sela,  the  beautiful  little  maid,  now  came  stealing 
up.  She  was,  however,  no  longer  very  small,  she  was 
only  beautiful,  and  by  this  Erlefried  recognised  her. 


Godless  269 


<( 


Erlefried ! "  she  called.  He  heard  her  voice,  he 
looked  at  her,  but  knew  not  how  to  reply. 

"  Erlefried,"  repeated  the  girl,  and  she  stood  close 
beside  him,  "  thou  didst  tell  me  once  that  whenever 
I  wanted  thee,  I  should  call  thee ;  and  I  want  thee 
now!  " 

"  Shall  I  carry  thee  over  the  stream  ?  Well,  here 
I  am,"  said  Erlefried,  looking  into  Sela's  fresh 
young  face. 

"  I  only  want  to  see  thee,  Erlefried,  then  I  will 
go  away  again.     Yes,  I  will  go  now." 

"  Dost  thou  like  violets  ?  "  he  asked,  holding  the 
little  bouquet  towards  her. 

Taking  it  in  her  hand  she  gazed  into  his  face, 
wondering  how  she  might  best  distract  and  cheer 
him  on  this  day,  when  he  had  just  buried  his  mother. 

"Hast  thou  not  been  riding  a  deer?"  she 
asked. 

"I,  riding  a  deer!"  said  Erlefried,  in  surprise. 

"Yes,"  continued  Sela;  "  I  saw  thee  quite  dis- 
tinctly— I  saw  thee  climb  upon  the  back  of  a  deer 
which  was  lying  asleep  in  the  forest.  It  sprang  to 
its  feet  and  darted  away  with  thee,  up  the  rocks  of 
the  Trasank  and  over  the  precipice  to  the  Wildwiese 
and  then  down  into  the  gorge,  where  the  Trinity 
was  drowned  in  the  Trach.  I  was  terribly  fright-^ 
ened — and  then,  all  of  a  sudden,  I  was  awake!  " 

She  told  her  story  with  great  vivacity. 

"  Thou  hast  been  dreaming  about  me,  Sela  ?  " 

"  Yes,  last  night.  And  I  could  do  nothing  until 
I  had  seen  thee  and  assured  myself  that  thou  wert 
safe  and  that  it  was  not  true.  Yes,  I  should  like  the 


270  The  God  Seeker 

violets,  and  take  care,  Erlefried,  and  do  not  try  to 
ride  a  deer!  " 

"  Sela!"  he  said. 

"  But  what  a  deep  voice  thou  hast  now!  " 

"  Sela,  I  should  like  to  know  if  thy  father  could 
make  use  of  such  a  one  in  his  house  ?" 

"  What  kind  of  a  one?" 

"  I  can  chop  wood,  Sela." 

"That  's  good." 

"  I  can  carry  loads  and  cut  up  kindling.  And  I 
can  also  feed  and  water  the  cows,  and  milk  them 
too.  I  could  easily  learn  to  fell  trees.  And  for  a 
long  time  I  have  known  how  to  plane  boards.  If 
there  are  herbs  and  roots  to  collect,  I  can  do  that. 
Thy  father  should  just  try  me!  " 

"  My  father  said  that  thou  wouldst  stay  with 
Bart." 

"But  I  have  n't  said  that  I  would.  I  will  not 
stay  with  Bart,  and  since  my  mother  is  dead  I  can 
go  where  I  please !  " 

The  girl,  noticing  how  angry  he  was  growing, 
asked  what  Bart  had  done  to  offend  him. 

"  I  am  no  child!  "  muttered  Erlefried,  his  voice 
almost  failing  him;  "  they  refused  to  let  me  take  a 
last  look  at  my  mother." 

"  Be  thankful  that  thou  hast  not  taken  the  last 
look,"  replied  the  girl;  "my  father  told  us  how 
thou  hast  mourned  over  that.  So  I  came  up  as 
quickly  as  I  could.  But  thou  art  angry  now,  and  I 
will  go  back  again  at  once." 

"  Sela,  stay  with  me!" 

"  Thoumustnot  be  vexed  at  what  I  am  going  tosay, 


Godless  271 

Erlefried,  but  it  is  not  right  what  thou  wouldst  do. 
After  Bart  has  been  so  good  to  thy  mother,  wouldst 
thou  be  an  ungrateful  lad,  and  go  away  into  the  wild 
forest  ?   That  would  be  like  thy  ride  on  the  deer ! " 

"  It  is  easy  for  thee  to  talk,"  replied  Erlefried, 
hesitatingly;  "  thou  hast  thyself." 

"  Thou  also,"  laughed  the  girl. 

"  But  that  does  not  make  me  happy.  Now  that 
my  mother  is  dead,  I  wish  I  could  be  with  thee! " 

"  Thou  canst  come  down  often  to  see  me  and  I 
will  come  to  thee.  It  is  much  more  cheerful  up 
here  than  down  in  the  gorge.  Thou  must  be  a 
good  lad,  and  thankful.     Wilt  thou  ?" 

"  For  thy  sake  I  will  stay  with  Bart,"  said  the 
boy ;  "  but  in  return  for  that  thou  must  dream  of  me 
every  night ! ' ' 

"  Where  have  they  buried  thy  mother  ?"  asked 
Sela 

"  Here,"  he  said  softly. 

"Where?" 

"  Here,  where  we  are  standing.     She  lies  here." 

Startled  at  his  reply,  the  girl  stepped  back  a  few 
paces,  and  folding  her  hands  she  gazed  upon  the 
ground. 

She  was  praying.  As  Erlefried  became  aware  of 
this  he,  too,  folded  his  hands.  Then  it  occurred  to 
him  that  one  should  always  say  a  prayer  upon 
graves.  And  so  they  stood  for  a  while  motionless 
as  the  trees.  A  gay  butterfly  was  circling  over  the 
heads  of  the  two  children  standing  on  the  grave,  on 
the  unconsecrated  ground,  surrounded  by  ruin — but 
they  were  young  and  longed  to  be  happy. 


CHAPTER   IX 

WAHNFRED  had  gone  over  the  mountains, 
to  the  left  of  which  lies  the  heathland,  and 
to  the  right  the  valleys  of  Trawies  and  of  the  Tra- 
sank.  His  intention  was  to  stop  at  Freiwild's  house 
to  see  if  the  new  conditions  were  as  little  in  evid- 
ence there  as  in  Bart's  home,  where  industry  and 
time-honoured  customs  continued  as  of  old.  But 
Freiwild's  house  was  closed  and  no  human  being 
was  to  be  seen  in  the  vicinity.  A  cow  was  mooing 
in  the  stall,  the  only  sign  of  life  on  the  premises. 
As  Wahnfred  walked  around  the  yard  investigating, 
he  thought  he  saw  up  in  the  gable  a  pair  of  legs  dis- 
appearing through  the  window. 

He  stopped  and  listened,  but  discovered  nothing 
further  and  heard  only  the  mooing  of  the  hungry 
cow. 

As  he  turned  to  leave  the  place  he  noticed  a 
strong,  pungent  odour  coming  from  a  wooded  ravine 
and  smoke  rising  from  among  the  firs;  it  was  the 
schnapps  distillery  of  old  Ursula,  a  sister  of  Freiwild, 
who  had  here  a  wretched  little  hut  where  she  carried 
on  a  miserable  business. 

But  now — from  what  Wahnfred  saw — the  business 
seemed  to  be  anything  but  miserable.     Under  the 

272 


Gk)dless  273 

trees,  over  rudely  constructed  stoves  of  clay,  stood 
a  row  of  five  kettles,  from  each  one  of  which  a  bright 
stream  trickled  into  a  keg.  Before  one  of  these 
kegs  Ursula  was  crouching,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  the  flushed  face,  she  was  almost  the  colour  of 
clay  herself  in  her  half  feminine,  half  masculine  at- 
tire. She  was  holding  her  fingers  under  one  of  the 
streams  testing  the  quality  of  the  new  brew.  As 
Wahnfred  spoke  to  her,  she  started  back  in  fright, 
then  asked  what  he  wanted. 

"  I  only  wish  to  watch  you,  Ursula." 

"  You  know  me  ?  You,  too,  seem — I  'm  sure  I  've 
often  seen  you,  but  I  can't  quite  place  you  this 
moment." 

"  The  carpenter  from  the  Gestade,"  he  said. 

Straightening  herself,  she  stared  at  him  in  as- 
tonishment, then  cried:  "He!  You  Wahnfred, 
the  carpenter!  Well,  I  never  should  have  known 
you." 

He  muttered  a  few  inarticulate  words. 

"Yes,  the  carpenter,"  she  continued;  "he  is 
nothing  special,  to  be  sure.  But  that  you  should 
be  able  to  kill  priests  like  that !  Yes,  we  know  all 
about  it.  Perhaps  you  are  lying  to  me  and  are 
someone  else  after  all!  " 

"  I  am  amazed,  Ursula,  that  your  distillery  has 
grown  so  large." 

"  Ha!"  said  the  old  woman  with  a  grin,  disclos- 
ing her  broad,  thick  tongue  between  her  toothless 
jaws,  "  I  wonder  if  you  are  really  Wahnfred!  By 
my  soul,  I  had  pictured  this  man  as  quite  different ! 

But  if  you    are  he,  I  have  you  to  thank  that  my 
18 


2  74  The  God  Seeker 

business  is  so  flourishing.  Since  the  boundaries 
have  been  enclosed  and  no  wine  comes  into  Trawies, 
the  people  all  drink  schnapps.  It  's  much  more  sens- 
ible. You  just  wait  a  moment,"  and  she  hastened 
into  the  hut,  returning  with  an  earthenware  pitcher 
and  a  mug;  filling  the  latter  she  said:  "  You  must 
try  it,  carpenter.  It  's  my  very  best.  To  think 
that  I  have  n't  even  a  bench  to  sit  down  on!  I 
should  like,  carpenter,  to  have  you  make  me  a  few 
benches  and  tables  to  put  here  on  the  grass.  People 
are  coming  all  the  time  and  it  looks  very  shabby  to 
oblige  them  to  sit  around  on  the  ground." 

**  What  kind  of  people  come  ? " 

"Stupid  question!  A  crowd  comes,  men  and 
women,  who  are  wandering  about  in  the  woods.  I 
give  them  their  little  drop  and  trouble  myself  no 
further  about  them.  They  ought  to  be  happy — for 
now  they  can  live  as  they  please." 

"  Your  brother  Freiwild,"  asked  Wahnfred,  "  is 
he  not  going  to  work  his  farm  this  year  ? " 

"  Why  do  you  ask  ? " 

"  Because  I  saw  no  one  in  his  fields,  and  his  house 
is  closed." 

"  I  've  no  doubt  of  that.  The  people  have  all  lost 
their  heads.  No  one  plants  the  fields,  for  nothing 
will  thrive  now  in  Trawies  soil,  they  say — and 
they  're  probably  right.  Not  even  a  blade  of  grass 
will  grow,  and  if  one  happens  to  spring  up,  it 
withers  the  next  day.  So  they  would  be  fools  to 
waste  their  last  corn  in  the  earth." 

"  But  what  do  the  people  do  ?  "  asked  Wahnfred 
eJ^citedly. 


Godless  275 

"  Oh,  don't  you  worry  that  they  have  n't  enough 
to  keep  themselves  busy.  If  it  was  n't  for  my  little 
warm  drink  here,  then  you  might  ask.  Are  you 
never  taken  that  way  ? " 

"What  way?" 

"  Are  you  not  sometimes  seized  with  the  horrors 
at  the  thought  that  we  are  damned  for  time  and 
eternity  ?  See  here,  when  that  comes  over  you, 
don't  you  drink  ?  " 

"God  forbid!" 

"  God!"  grinned  the  old  woman,  "  the  Trinity 
which  they  drowned  in  the  Trach  ?  Why,  that 's  the 
reason  we  have  to  drown  our  poor  souls  in  schnapps. 
Drink,  carpenter,  and  I  will  fill  the  jug  again." 

"  Be  off  with  your  stuf?!  "  said  Wahnfred,  throw- 
ing the  jug  down  at  her  feet.  "  Do  you  know  how 
the  brewers  of  poison  were  punished  in  the  Old 
Testament  ? " 

"  Oh,  oh!"  replied  Ursula  spitefully;  "  because 
you  can  never  be  a  Christian  again,  you  are  going 
to  try  being  a  Jew!  " 

"  'T  would  be  a  thousand  times  better  than  living 
on  like  godless  brutes.  The  strong  God  of  the  Jews 
with  His  rod,  Ursula,  would  be  just  the  one  for  us!  " 

The  shambling,  tattered  figure  of  Roderich,  the 
tramp,  now  appeared  walking  along  the  cliff.  While 
still  at  some  distance,  he  began  calling  for  brandy 
with  his  hoarse  voice.  On  seeing  Wahnfred,  he 
clapped  his  hands  and  rushed  towards  him,  scream- 
ing: "The  carpenter!  The  saviour!  Oh,  you 
hero,  come  to  my  arms!  "  and  he  tried  to  embrace 
him,  but  Wahnfred  pushed  him  back. 


2  76  The  God  Seeker 

"  You  see  what  you  can  do  with  him,  Roder; 
he  's  as  sour  as  vinegar,"  said  the  malicious  Ursula 
to  the  tramp. 

"  With  you,  I  can  well  believe,"  he  replied ;  "  but 
in  the  inn  at  Trawies,  there  he  '11  wear  another  face, 
I  'm  sure  of  that.  Wahnfred!  Conqueror!  Dragon 
destroyer !  Say,  then,  in  what  hollow  oak-tree  have 
you  been  lying  buried  through  the  winter,  that  we 
have  searched  for  you  everywhere  in  vain  ?  " 

"  Who  has  searched  for  me  ? " 

"  We,  the  citizens  of  Trawies,"  said  the  tramp, 
straightening  himself  in  his  rags  as  erect  as  his 
stunted  body  would  allow.  "  And  do  you  know, 
too,  carpenter,  that  I  shall  get  my  drinks  free  to- 
night ?  The  first  one  who  finds  you  is  to  be  treated 
by  the  rest.  The  Council  agreed  to  that  on  Candle- 
mas Day." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  Council  has  any- 
thing to  decide  concerning  me!  "  remarked  Wahn- 
fred. 

"  You  '11  soon  find  out,  hero!  Only  come  with 
me.  To-day  you  get  no  money  from  me,  old 
woman;  to-day  I  'm  going  somewhere  else!  Come, 
carpenter,  come  along  and  don't  wait  for  a  golden 
chariot  to  carry  you !  Everybody  is  equal  now  in 
the  Kingdom  of  Trawies,  and  you  must  see,  brother, 
how  merry  we  've  all  grown  since  last  Advent.  If 
you  want  another  drink,  then  drink,  if  not,  come!  " 

Wahnfred  was  about  to  refuse  to  accompany  the 
man,  but  he  reflected  a  little.  His  road  also  led  to 
Trawies,  and  by  going  with  this  talkative  tramp  he 
might  learn  much  on  the  way  concerning  the  new 


Godless  277 

conditions  in  his  native  place.  So  the  two  men 
walked  on  together,  but  Wahnfred  discovered  no- 
thingfurtherthanthatthe  tramp  was  in  a  jovial  mood. 

"  Now,  my  brother,"  said  the  man,  laying  his  arm 
over  the  shoulder  of  the  carpenter,  "  now  the  time 
has  come  when  no  one  has  any  hardships  to  endure. 
One  winter  has  already  gone,  and  in  the  summer  it 
will  be  merrier  yet.  The  only  thing  I  dread  is  that 
the  watch  may  be  removed  from  the  boundaries ;  if 
that  should  happen,  then  all  sorts  of  trouble  would 
come  upon  Trawies.  You  must  n't  think,  carpen- 
ter, that  everything  goes  smoothly.  There  are  many 
stupid  people  among  us.  For  instance,  Mistress 
Sandhok  insists  on  doing  penance  so  that  the  church 
will  be  opened  again ;  the  herb  doctor  and  the  black- 
smith, Paul,  are  saying  their  prayers  to  have  the 
ban  removed.  Those  are  people  who  do  not  know 
when  they  are  well  off.  Wahnfred,  we  shall  have 
all  we  can  do  to  keep  on  our  feet.  There  are  also  a 
few  of  the  old  peasants  who  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  new  parish.  But  now  that  we  have  you, 
brother,  now  things  will  go  straight." 

As  they  entered  Trawies,  the  tramp  gripped  his 
companion's  arm  more  firmly;  he  was  only  sorry 
that  it  was  growing  dark  and  that  the  people  could 
not  see  whom  he  had  with  him  to-day.  They 
might  have  conjectured  that  Roderich  was  also  con- 
cerned in  the  occurrence  of  last  Advent,  he  seemed 
on  such  intimate  terms  with  the  carpenter. 

Wahnfred  cast  one  quick  glance  towards  the 
church  gleaming  through  the  darkness  from  the 
hill.     The  windows  of  the  tavern,  which  they  were 


278  The  God  Seeker 

now  approaching,  were  brightly  h'ghted.  The  room 
was  filled  with  boisterous  drinkers.  The  tramp 
pushed  open  the  door  with  his  foot,  drawing  his 
companion  in- after  him. 

"  See,  people,  only  see,  whom  I  am  bringing  in !  " 
he  cried. 

"  Wahnfred!  "  they  screamed,  greeting  the  new- 
comer joyfully.  "  Our  saviour  and  benefactor, 
where  have  you  been  so  long,  leaving  us  all  alone  ? 
Carpenter!  Blessed  redeemer  of  Trawies!  But  why 
are  you  looking  at  us  in  that  strange  way  ? " 

They  slapped  him  on  the  shoulders  in  welcome, 
they  crowded  forward  to  shake  him  by  the  hand. 
In  the  dim  candle-light  Wahnfred  scarcely  recog- 
nised one  of  the  grinning  faces.  They  were  a  wild, 
motley  crowd  of  rough,  bearded  fellows,  who  all 
looked  as  though  they  had,  like  himself,  just  come 
down  from  the  wilderness.  Charcoal-burners,  wood- 
cutters, peasants,  poachers,  miners,  herb-gatherers, 
had  left  their  places  of  work,  taken  whatever  they 
could  lay  their  hands  on,  and  because  they  were 
numerically  the  stronger,  had  assumed  the  authority 
and  were  now  the  freemen  and  citizens  of  Trawies. 
Pedlars  and  the  rabble  from  the  highways  were 
among  them,  having  been  urged  to  join  the  so- 
called  parish.  Men  from  distant  forests,  whom  one 
would  not  like  to  meet  on  lonely  paths,  were  also 
here.  They  were  welcomed  into  the  new  society, 
whose  chief  objects  were  that  its  members  should  be 
of  one  mind,  and  that  its  strength  should  be  in- 
creased as  rapidly  as  possible.  Of  the  same  mind 
were  also  those  who  had  escaped  from  prison  or  the 


Godless  279 

gallows  and  had  fled  to  Trawies ;  thus  the  outlawed 
village  had  now  become  a  refuge  for  criminals. 

The  band  went  from  house  to  house,  from  hut  to 
hut,  and  those  who  did  not  join  it  were  in  danger  of 
losing  their  possessions  and  their  lives.  They  held 
their  court  in  the  tavern ;  here  they  took  counsel  to- 
gether, but  these  assemblies  often  ended  in  quarrels, 
or  more  often  in  carousals.  As  long  as  they  had 
money,  which  flew  from  hand  to  hand,  business  was 
conducted  with  fair  regularity.  "  It  is  forbidden  to 
take  from  one  another  by  force,"  was  a  law  in  the 
new  "  parish." 

But  when  the  tavern-keeper  and  the  pedlar  re- 
fused to  accept  money,  being  unable  to  redeem  the 
coins,  a  rebellion  threatened,  and  it  was  finally 
agreed  to  take  all  the  provisions  from  the  houses  of 
Trawies  and  to  divide  them  among  the  people.  Old 
Ursula  was  the  only  person  who  still  took  money, 
as  she  was  not  yet  aware  that  the  coins  were  worth- 
less, for,  instead  of  spending  them,  she  hid  them  in 
an  old  jug  which  she  buried  in  the  ground.  And  so 
it  came  about  that  in  Trawies  cash  was  paid  only 
for  schnapps,  and  that  was  all  that  could  be  bought 
with  it. 

This  was  the  state  in  which  Wahnfred  found  them 
as  he  entered  the  tavern.  There  were  also  women 
present,  one  or  more  between  every  two  men,  with 
blazing  cheeks  and  many  with  blazing  eyes.  They 
stared  boldly  at  the  handsome,  slender  man  with 
the  pale  face.  With  one  accord  they  all  rose  to  their 
feet,  offering  him  brandy,  and  drinking  with  shouts 
of  joy  to  the  liberator  of  Trawies. 


28o  The  God  Seeker 

**  Now  you  belong  to  us!"  they  cried;  "  now  you 
must  stay  with  us !  We  need  just  such  a  man  as  you. 
Why  are  you  as  pale  as  the  stone  image  of  a  saint  ? 
You  are  not  afraid  that  we  will  give  you  up  ? " 

"  See,  here  is  your  axe  from  the  sacristry,  which 
we  are  sacredly  preserving.  It  suits  us  far  better 
than  the  crucifix !  " 

Wahnfred  shuddered  with  horror  at  sight  of  the 
rusty  implement,  at  the  hard  steel  from  which  had 
sprung  the  spark  that  burned  like  hell  fire  in  his  own 
soul,  and  was  growing  in  strength  and  becoming  a 
disastrous  conflagration  in  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Still  filled  with  the  sorrow  of  the  morning  at  the 
grave,  he  could  scarcely  utter  a  word.  He  would 
have  preferred,  after  what  he  had  seen  and  heard  to- 
day, to  flee  as  far  as  his  feet  would  carry  him.  But 
the  thought  of  his  oath  at  the  deathbed  of  his  wife 
and  his  resolve  to  conquer  or  fall  with  Trawies  re- 
strained him.  So  turning  to  the  people,  he  said  : 
"  Friends,  if  you  will  trust  me,  our  union  may  yet 
be  profitable." 

Loud  cheers  broke  forth  and  the  carpenter  was 
dragged  to  the  foremost  table.  "  Drink  brandy, 
brother,"  said  one  of  the  company;  "  it  will  make  a 
new  man  of  you,  mark  my  words!  " 

The  outer  door  was  suddenly  opened  and  Mis- 
tress Freiwild  entered  in  great  excitement  and  in- 
quired for  her  husband.  He  was  standing  by  a 
table  near  the  stove,  and  on  seeing  his  wife  he 
calmly  asked  her  if  she  had  come  for  another  beat- 
ing like  the  last  one. 

Covering  her  face  with  her  hand  to  ward  off  the 


Godless  2St 

blow,  she  answered  timidly:  "  No,  no,  stay  and 
drink  as  long  as  thou  wilt ;  I  only  came  to  tell  thee 
that  we  have  been  robbed  this  afternoon.  The 
rascals  have  stolen  all  the  lard  and  meat  and  linen; 
the  big  chest  has  been  broken  open  and  thy  new 
boots  are  gone!  " 

Freiwild  sprang  upon  the  table,  crying:  "I  've 
been  robbed,  Council  of  Trawies,  I  've  been 
robbed!" 

"  The  thief  must  have  crawled  in  through  the  up- 
per window,"  continued  the  woman;  "there  are 
scratches  from  his  boot-nails  on  the  wall." 

"  I  've  been  robbed!  "  screamed  Freiwild. 

"There  must  be  a  hellish  pack  of  fiends  wander- 
ing about,"  remarked  Roderich,  the  tramp,  turning 
towards  Wahnfred ;  "  we  are  constantly  hearing  of 
thefts  and  robberies." 

"  Is  it  not  possible  that  you  may  have  seen  the 
thief  to-day  ?  "  asked  Wahnfred. 

"Why?  What  do  you  mean  by  that?"  an- 
swered Roderich,  anxiously. 

"  Because  you  were  just  coming  from  Freiwild's 
house  when  we  met  at  the  distillery." 

One  of  the  men  then  approached  Freiwild,  say- 
ing: "  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  had  meat  and 
lard  ?  Would  n't  you  have  told  us  next  week,  when 
we  came  to  collect  provisions,  that  there  was  no- 
thing in  your  house  and  that  you  were  going  hungry 
yourselves  ?  See  here,  you  rascal,  you  deserve  a 
beating,  for  you  are  deceiving  the  parish!  " 

"  Parish!"  said  Freiwild  in  a  loud  whisper  to  the 
speaker.      "  You  are  afraid  you  won't  get  your  full 


2S2  The  God  Seekef 

share  yourself!  You  give  only  the  lean  portions  to 
the  parish.  Shall  I  tell  where  you  conceal  the  fat 
pieces  ?  " 

"  Don't  tell,  we  '11  divide,"  answered  the  man  in 
a  low  voice. 

"  We  've  already  divided.  In  the  Ross  cave, 
where  you  had  hidden  your  booty,  I  found  the  lard 
and  meat  which  has  just  been  stolen  from  me." 

A  little  man  now  advanced,  the  wood-cutter 
Stom,  from  the  Trasank  valley.  No  one  could  see 
him  as  he  pushed  his  way  through  the  crowd,  but 
his  high,  screeching  voice  was  distinctly  audible. 

"  I  have  something  to  say,"  he  screamed. 

"Silence!  Stom  has  something  to  say,"  yv^as 
cried  on  all  sides. 

The  little  man,  having  mounted  a  chair,  now  be- 
gan:  "  People,  if  things  go  on  in  this  way,  our  new 
parish  will  be  ruined.  It  is  bad  enough  to  plunder 
each  other,  but  it  is  still  worse  that  this  will  soon 
have  to  cease  because  there  will  be  nothing  more  to 
steal  in  Trawies.  And  it  is  useless  to  work,  for  no 
blessing  will  come  with  it;  heaven  is  closed  to  us; 
we  get  nothing  more  from  outside ;  even  the  crea- 
tures of  the  forest  are  clever  enough  not  to  cross  the 
boundary  now.     Shall  we  consume  ourselves  ?  " 

A  murmur  of  discontent  was  heard. 

"  We  '11  soon  dispose  of  you,"  jeered  the  tramp. 

"  You  cross-eyed  vagabond,  you!"  screamed  the 
speaker,  **  making  your  rusty  jokes  when  a  man  is 
trying  to  be  serious.  I  '11  dispose  of  you  sooner! 
You  're  a  good-for-nothing  parasite,  if  not  some- 
thing worse!  " 


Godless  283 

The  tramp  was  seized  and  dragged  to  the  door, 
and  all  the  time  he  was  wailing:  "  Is  this  the  thanks 
I  get  for  bringing  you  the  carpenter?  "  It  may  have 
been  a  piece  of  good  fortune  for  the  man,  for  Wahn- 
fred  was  on  the  point  of  asking  him  what  he  was  do- 
ing up  at  Freiwild's  house  this  afternoon  and  of 
examining  his  boots,  to  see  if  they  could  have  left 
scratches  on  the  wall  or  in  any  way  resembled  the 
pair  he  had  seen  disappearing  through  the  window. 

The  wood-cutter  Stom  now  continued  his  dis- 
course: "  Since  neither  work  nor  self-destruction 
will  help  matters,  I  propose  the  following :  If  we  do 
not  wish  to  perish  we  must  combine  until  we  are  a 
strong  band,  and  then  go  boldly  forth  to  the  houses 
of  the  nobility  and  to  the  farms  outside  and  help 
ourselves  to  what  we  want  wherever  we  find  it." 

"A  band  of  robbers!"  exclaimed  Wahnfred, 
bending  forward  as  if  he  had  misunderstood. 

"  I  have  said  nothing  about  a  band  of  robbers," 
replied  the  speaker.  "  When  Hungarians  and  Turks 
invade  a  land,  burning  houses  and  castles,  they  are 
called  by  another  name.  When  the  Swedes  come 
and  plunder  even  the  imperial  courts,  and  the 
Bishop  of  Salzburg  celebrates  Ash  Wednesday 
throughout  the  year, — for  he  is  always  burning  fort- 
resses and  villages, — who  calls  them  a  band  of  rob- 
bers ?  Trawies  has  now  become  independent ; 
Trawies  has  men  capable  of  bearing  arms.  And  if 
the  outsiders  should  declare  war  against  us,  should 
we  cowardly  creep  out  of  sight,  like  a  fox  in  his 
hole  ?  Are  there  no  lions  in  the  wilderness  ?  And 
have  we  not  a  lion's  head  carved  on  our  old  church 


284  The  God  Seeker 

door  ?  Now  we  shall  learn  the  meaning  of  the  lion 
in  Trawies.     Comrades,  let  us  start  a  campaign!" 

"A  campaign!  A  war!  Down  with  the  no- 
bility !  "  In  wild  confusion  the  words  were  shouted ; 
some  of  the  people  seized  their  clubs  and  knives  as 
though  about  to  start  at  that  very  hour.  The 
women  sprang  to  their  feet,  declaring  with  shrill 
voices  that  they  would  not  be  left  at  home,  but 
would  join  the  band  with  scythes,  pitchforks,  and 
axes,  and  their  fingers  twitched  with  the  desire  to 
begin.  Stom  beamed  and  smiled  with  pleasure  as 
he  saw  the  effect  of  his  words. 

"  This  is  all  very  well,"  he  said  with  a  smirk, 
**  but  first  we  must  choose  a  leader.  He  need  not 
be  a  giant  in  body,  but  he  must  have  a  clear  brain 
and  unbounded  energy ;  he  must  be  as  keen  as  the 
devil  and  be  intimidated  by  nothing,  plunging 
ahead  like  a  roaring  lion — I  should  just  like  to  show 
him  how!  " 

The  people  at  once  proceeded  to  elect  their 
leader.  And  even  the  more  thoughtful  ones  de- 
cided that,  whether  or  not  the  expedition  should 
take  place,  it  would  be  necessary  to  have  some  one 
at  their  head.  His  size  and  strength  were  of  com- 
paratively little  importance,  also  his  ability  to  speak 
in  public,  but  he  must  not  be  a  house-owner;  he 
must  be  one  of  the  foot-loose  citizens,  that  he  might 
not  be  tempted  to  return  to  old,  worn-out  customs, 
which  would  bring  with  them  the  old  evil.  He  must 
have  a  good  head  and  a  sure  hand,  both  with  im- 
plements of  work  and  of  war,  and  in  some  way  he 
must  have  proved  that  the  parish  was  more  to  him 


Godless  285 

than  all  else  in  the  world,  even  than  himself.  There 
was  but  one  man  present  of  whom  that  could  be 
said,  who  had  the  confidence  of  all  and  who  should 
consider  it  a  duty  as  well  as  an  honour  to  accept  the 
position. 

Little  Stom  bowed  with  profusion  and  said  that 
he  was  much  gratified  at  the  great  honour  conferred 
upon  him,  and  that  he  would  consider  it  his  first 
duty  to  serve  the  parish. 

It  was  again  announced  that  there  was  but  one 
present  who  could  be  proposed  for  election,  and  he 
was  the  brave  man  who  had  liberated  the  parish  of 
Trawies  from  slavery — Wahnfred,  the  carpenter. 

The  tongues  were  now  loosened  and  from  all  sides 
was  heard  :  "  Wahnfred  shall  be  our  chief,  our  gen- 
eral, our  leader,  and  king!  "  The  women  screamed 
the  loudest  and  each  one  cried  with  two  voices,  one 
as  citizen,  one  as  woman. 

In  the  meantime  Wahnfred  was  struggling  to  sub- 
due his  ever-rising  indignation.;  his  soul  was  filled 
with  anger  and  scorn.  Could  this  be  Trawies?  He 
had  come  with  the  hope  of  quieting  these  people, 
who  had  been  cast  out  from  Church  and  State,  and 
of  leading  them  to  a  better  way  of  life.  And  now 
was  he  to  be  chief  of  a  band  of  rough,  degenerate 
men  and  women  ?  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  clear 
to  him  that  only  thus  could  he  gain  an  influence 
over  this  lawless  mob.  There  being  nothing  to  lose 
and  everything  to  gain,  Wahnfred's  decision  was 
quickly  made.  He  rose,  and,  bracing  himself  with 
his  hand  against  the  table,  said  with  a  sad,  but 
distinct,  voice: 


^S6  The  God  Seeker 

"  If  I  accept  the  position,  I  demand  one  thing!  " 

"  Demand  what  you  will! "  they  cried. 

"  I  demand  obedience!"' 

"  He  demands  obedience!  "  screamed  the  wood- 
cutter, Stom;  "  you  see,  he  who  killed  the  tyrant 
would  now  himself  be  a  tyrant!  " 

"  There  is  one  against  me,"  said  Wahnfred. 

They  beat  Stom  with  their  fists,  declaring  that 
the  carpenter  should  be  their  leader. 

"  There  can  be  freedom  only  where  there  is  law 
and  order,"  said  Wahnfred.  "  This  arm  of  mine  is 
yours;  it  shall  lead  you.  You  are  already  ac- 
quainted with  it.  When  it  was  uplifted  with  the 
axe  it  was  intended  for  your  good,  and  what  it  does 
further  shall  also  be  for  your  good !  People  of  Tra- 
wies,  obey  me  implicitly  and  I  am  yours!  " 

"  Obedience,  obedience  to  the  chief  of  Trawies!  " 
re-echoed  throughout  the  room;  again  the  women's 
voices  were  heard  above  the  rest.  The  few  discon- 
tented ones  had  left  the  tavern. 

With  a  firm  grasp,  Wahnfred  seized  the  axe  and 
striking  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  table  sent  the  blade 
deep  into  the  wood.  He  then  gazed  sternly  about 
him;  the  shouting  merged  into  a  murmur,  which 
ended  in  silence.  A  feeling  of  ecstasy  at  yielding 
to  a  higher  power  filled  these  servile  hearts. 


CHAPTER  X 

A  FEW  weeks  after  Wahnfred  had  undertaken 
the  leadership  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  forest 
region,  and,  by  the  exercise  of  all  his  craft  and 
strength,  had  succeeded  in  so  far  restraining  them 
that  they  temporarily  ceased  injuring  one  another, 
great  excitement  was  caused  among  them  by  a 
strange  spectacle  in  nature.  Towards  the  end  of 
May, — so  relates  the  chronicle, — on  a  sultry,  almost 
starless  night,  a  fiery  cross  appeared  in  the  eastern 
sky  above  the  forest  of  the  Tarn.  It  was  of  gigan- 
tic size,  its  colour  a  dull  red,  as  though  covered  by 
a  veil  of  mist.  The  arms  seemed  to  rise  and  fall 
slowly  ;  otherwise  it  remained  ghost-like  and  motion- 
less for  nearly  half  an  hour,  when  it  gradually  paled 
and  disappeared,  leaving  the  forest  once  more  envel- 
oped in  darkness. 

The  timid  souls,  in  their  fright,  crept  into  obscure 
corners,  covering  their  faces  to  keep  out  the  terri- 
ble sight.  The  brave  ones  stood  and  watched  it. 
Not  until  it  had  passed  were  their  tongues  loosened 
to  ask  one  another:  "  What  was  that  ?  " 

Even  Wahnfred,  who  was  now  living,  much  against 
his  will,  in  the  fire  guardian's  former  home,  when 
awakened   from   his   slumbers,   trembled   inwardly 

287 


288  The  God  Seeker 

before  the  spectacle.  And  he  said  to  the  excited  peo- 
ple assembled  about  his  house:  "  Thank  God  the 
Lord,  ye  people  of  Trawies,  that  Heaven  considers 
us  worthy  of  a  sign  and  a  warning,  for  it  proves  that 
we  are  not  lost.  Cruel  men  have  destroyed  our 
cross ;  Heaven  shows  it  to  us  again.  On  the  day  of 
judgment  it  is  said  that  a  cross  shall  appear  in  the 
sky.  But  that  prophecy  is  not  yet  fulfilled,  for  the 
stars  still  shine.  I  believe  that  God  has  held  this 
cross  before  our  eyes  as  we  hold  the  crucifix  before 
the  eyes  of  the  dying.  We  have  reason  to  tremble 
for  our  future.  We  are  blasphemers,  idlers,  thieves, 
adulterers.  Our  sins  have  a  thousand  names.  In 
this  house  once  lived  a  good  man,  grown  old  in  the 
loveandserviceof  Trawies, — you  have  cast  him  out!" 

Wahnfred  was  interrupted  by  someone  saying: 
"  We  did  not  cast  him  out  because  he  had  grown 
old  in  the  love  and  service  of  Trawies,  but  because 
he  would  not  accept  the  new  customs." 

"Tell  me,  what  are  the  new  customs?"  cried 
Wahnfred.  "  You  cannot  ?  Then  I  will  tell  you: 
brute  force  and  license!  But  I  say  to  you,  and  I 
swear  by  the  flaming  cross  in  the  sky,  it  must  be 
otherwise ! " 

"  Then  change  it  if  you  can,"  answered  one  of  the 
defiant  men. 

"  Gallo  Weissbucher,  our  chief,  shall  live  once 
more  in  his  house." 

"  He  may,  for  all  we  care !  " 

"  Consider  for  a  moment,"  continued  Wahnfred: 
**  what  if  the  fiery  cross  should  fall  from  heaven 
upon  Trawies  I ' ' 


Godless  289 

"  Let  it,  then!  It  can  do  no  more  than  destroy 
us!" 

A  few  of  the  people  had  followed  Wahnfred's  ad- 
vice, but  the  majority  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
plough  and  sow  their  fields  this  spring,  their  excuse 
being  that  nothing  would  grow  in  soil  that  had  been 
cursed. 

"  Do  you  call  this  land  cursed  ?  "  cried  Wahnfred, 
pointing  to  the  luxuriant  plant  life,  to  the  bright 
flowers  on  the  meadows,  to  the  blossoming  fruit- 
trees,  and  to  the  new  budding  forest. 

But  who  was  there  to  sow  ?  The  rabble  had 
neither  ground  nor  seed,  and  the  landowners  had 
been  robbed  so  often  that  they  foresaw  who  would 
garner  their  harvests.  The  few  old  settlers  decided 
to  let  things  take  their  course,  thinking  that  when 
there  was  no  more  bread  to  be  had  in  Trawies  the 
rabble  would  disperse  and  disappear.  Wahnfred 
owned  a  field  near  the  ruins  of  his  house.  This  he 
cultivated  and  planted  with  a  variety  of  vegetables. 

One  day,  soon  after  the  appearance  of  the  cross 
in  the  sky,  Wahnfred  sent  word  to  the  fire  guardian 
that  he  might  return  to  his  house  by  the  Trach. 
Gallo's  reply  was  that  since  he  had  laid  his  wife  to 
rest  near  the  little  hut  in  the  Diirbach  gorge  he  pre- 
ferred to  remain  by  her.  While  the  messenger  was 
on  his  way  some  miscreant  slipped  into  the  back  of 
the  house  by  the  Trach  and  was  on  the  point  of  set- 
ting it  on  fire  when  Wahnfred,  who  chanced  to  be 
in  the  vicinity,  frightened  the  man  away.  This  oc- 
currence made  Wahnfred  more  than  ever  realise  how 
dangerous  was  the  ground  upon  which  he   stood, 

»9 


290  The  God  Seeker 

how  despicable  the  "  parish  "  that  had  chosen  him 
for  their  chief.  Daily  he  was  beset  by  vagabonds 
and  rapacious  fellows,  urging  him  to  form  a  band  of 
the  able-bodied  men  of  Trawies  to  set  out  on  an  ex- 
pedition into  the  neighbouring  country. 

He  did  not  refuse,  not  daring  to  risk  his  some- 
what uncertain  influence  over  the  people,  as  well  as 
their  more  than  uncertain  confidence  in  him.  He 
put  them  off  by  saying  that  the  present  time  was 
unfavourable  on  account  of  the  military  movement 
outside.  Day  and  night  he  was  trying  to  devise 
means  to  restore  law  and  order.  He  took  counsel 
of  the  outcast  chief,  the  fire  guardian,  who  was  ill 
and  broken  and  who  replied:  "There  are  three 
ways:  either  you  fall  prostrate  before  the  cross  and 
implore  the  Church  to  remove  the  interdict,  or  you 
wait  for  the  soldiers  to  come  in  and  destroy  you,  or 
— you  destroy  yourselves!  " 

This  was  Gallo  Weissbucher's  last  word  for  Tra- 
wies. He  withdrew  into  his  poor  little  hut  and  re- 
mained alone  with  his  fire  and  with  his  Sela. 

"  Yes,"  he  once  remarked,  while  watching  his 
blooming  child,  "  thou  hast  many  years  yet  to  live 
in  this  world.  How  will  it  deal  with  thee  ?  The 
people  here  have  gone  mad.  It  is,  alas!  true,  the 
brute  instinct  still  remains  in  them.  For  a  lonp- 
time  they  held  God's  banner  before  their  eyes,  gaz- 
ing up  at  it  in  ecstasy  and  following  whithersoever 
it  led.  And  now,  all  at  once,  their  symbol  is  torn 
from  their  hands,  hurled  to  the  ground,  trod  upon, 
destroyed.  One  thing  after  another  have  they  cast 
from    them  J    they    have   desecrated    their   temple, 


Godless  291 

overthrown  the  laws,  burned  their  own  dwellings, 
living  like  beasts,  yet  with  one  human  trait  which 
beasts  do  not  possess :  sin.  The  greater  the  height 
from  which  they  plunge  into  the  sea,  so  much  the 
deeper  do  they  sink.  But  be  of  good  courage,  my 
child,  the  tide  will  cast  them  upon  the  shore  again ; 
once  more  will  they  find  the  sunlight ;  once  more 
will  they  begin  the  struggle  for  existence,  and  in 
their  distress  and  danger  will  make  for  themselves 
a  new  symbol,  which  after  ages  will  again  assume 
its  former  greatness  and  perfection.  Happy  he 
who,  privileged  to  live  at  such  a  time,  may,  when 
dying,  pronounce  a  blessing  upon  his  race,  instead 
of  cursing  himself  and  it,  as  I  must  do.  I  cannot 
bless  thee,  my  Sela,  but  in  guarding  the  ancestral 
fire  I  am  keeping  for  thee  the  blessings  of  our  fore- 
fathers and  of  all  those  who  for  love  of  coming  gen- 
erations have  struggled  and  suffered." 

The  girl  looked  at  the  old  man  in  astonishment ; 
there  was  a  strange  ring  in  his  voice,  a  strange  bright- 
ness in  his  eyes. 

Then  withdrawing  into  himself,  he  murmured  the 
wish  that  from  the  summit  of  the  Birstling  an  ava- 
lanche might  descend  and  bring  with  it  a  rock  to 
bar  the  entrance  to  the  Diirbach  gorge.  He  feared 
the  enemies  who  enclosed  the  boundaries  with  a 
ring  of  flame,  but  he  was  in  still  greater  terror  of 
the  monster  which  had  appeared  in  these  mount- 
ains, fanning  the  fire  of  wildest  passion  in  the 
hearts  exposed  to  its  mercy.  How  different  was 
this  fire  from  that  of  the  household  goddess,  the 
sacred  Vesta,  which  he  had  so  faithfully  defended 


^9^  The  God  Seeker 

and  guarded.  This  carefully  preserved  spark,  which, 
hundreds,  perhaps  a  thousand  years  ago,  had  sprung 
from  the  lightning  that  consumed  the  old  oak-tree, 
beneath  whose  spreading  branches  the  Germans  had 
sacrificed  to  their  gods, — this  spark,  which  had  come 
down  from  generation  to  generation,  a  silent  legacy, 
filling  their  homes  with  a  gentle  warmth  and  a  mel- 
low light,  but  always  ready  to  burst  into  a  mighty 
conflagration,  perchance  to  purify,  perchance  to  de- 
stroy evil, — this  spark,  which  had  always  been  used 
at  joyous  festivals  and  to  light  the  funeral  torches 
at  Trawies,  and  which  now  still  glowed  in  the  hut 
of  the  fire  guardian — had  become  an  outcast,  a 
stranger,  in  the  new  kingdom. 

Old  Weissbucher  sat  by  his  hearth  gazing  into  the 
embers.  He  no  longer  mourned  the  loss  of  his 
house,  he  felt  at  home  here.  This  fire  warmed  his 
heart  and  filled  it  with  contentment.  Where  on  the 
earth  is  there  anything  more  beautiful,  more  mys- 
terious, more  gentle,  more  powerful  than  fire  ?  Fire 
brings  life,  and  according  to  the  Holy  Writ,  every- 
thing at  last  shall  be  destroyed  by  fire. 

Sela  piled  logs  and  branches  from  fallen  trees  by 
the  hearth,  that  they  might  always  be  in  readiness 
for  the  nourishment  of  this  living  creature,  so  an- 
cient, yet  every  moment  born  anew.  By  the  crack- 
ling flames  the  old  man  would  often  fall  asleep; 
but  his  slumber  was  restless,  for  he  would  fre- 
quently start  up  in  fear  that  the  fire  might  be  extin- 
guished. 

Sela  assured  him  many  times  every  night  that  she 
would  watch  it. 


Godless  293 

"  Thy  spirit  is  willing,"  said  the  fire  guardian, 
"  but  thy  flesh  is  weak.  Thou  art  young;  thou  art 
filled  with  so  much  new  life  by  the  brightness  of  the 
day,  that  thou  dost  burn  like  this  fire,  and  when 
night  comes  thine  eyes  close  and  thy  limbs  relax, 
thou  art  lifeless  and  knowest  not  what  watching 
means.  I  cannot  trust  thee  at  night,  Sela,  my  poor, 
beloved  Sela!  " 

And  when  she  slept  and  his  own  exhaustion  threat- 
ened to  overcome  him,  he  would  pile  on  the  wood 
until  at  midnight  the  little  hut  in  the  gorge  often 
presented  a  weird  and  brilliant  sight. 

Once,  the  fire  guardian  started  suddenly  from  his 
slumbers,  and  discovered  that  the  cross-beam  of  the 
house,  which  was  utilised  for  hanging  clothes,  was 
on  fire.  The  flames  were  spreading  rapidly  and 
threatened  the  roof,  as  if  endeavouring  to  escape 
from  their  long  imprisonment.  But  he  wakened  in 
time.  Springing  up,  he  cut  the  beam  in  twain  with 
his  axe,  letting  the  pieces  fall  upon  the  damp  clay 
floor,  where  the  flames  were  soon  extinguished. 

"  Whither  wouldst  thou  go  ?  "  asked  the  old  man, 
addressing  the  fire;  "wouldst  thou  escape  from 
Trawies  altogether?  Then  would  I  go  with  thee; 
or  wouldst  thou  wage  war  upon  the  ring  of  flame 
about  our  boundaries  ?  Well  and  good !  Fly  away, 
envelop  the  forests  of  Tarn  and  of  the  Ritscher,  and 
hurl  thy  fire-brands  upon  Trawies!  Attack  and 
melt  the  rocks  of  the  Trasank  and  send  thy  stream 
of  fire  through  the  valley  of  the  Trach !  And  do  not 
spare  my  house,  for  we  are  murderers !  Destroy  this 
nest   of  criminals  and  remove  from  us  the    curse! 


294  The  God  Seeker 

And  when  it  is  accomplished,  then  return  to  the 
peaceful  homes  of  a  better  people  and  carry  the 
blessings  of  our  forefathers  on  into  future  ages!  " 

The  awakened  girl  was  terrified  to  see  her  father 
standing,  with  disordered  locks  and  a  wild  look  in 
his  eyes,  in  the  midst  of  smoke  and  glowing  ashes, 
speaking  in  a  loud  tone  words  which  she  did  not 
understand. 

The  voice  of  the  child  broke  the  spell.  He  took 
Sela  in  his  arms  and  wept. 

Thus  they  lived  on,  but  the  fire  guardian  declined 
from  day  to  day.  He  would  no  longer  remain  out 
of  doors;  the  sunlight  hurt  his  eyes  and  he  feared 
to  leave  his  fire  unguarded.  So  he  sat  constantly 
by  his  hearth,  watching  and  thinking. 

He  realised  that  his  end  was  near.  He  had  sin- 
cerely repented  of  his  sin,  therefore  death  had  no 
terrors  for  him;  it  was  to  him  a  dear,  familiar 
thought,  a  gift  of  God,  common  to  us  all. 

"  After  this  world  full  of  injustice,  unrest,  and 
suffering,  death  is  a  welcome  messenger,  a  gentle 
liberator,  reconciling  us  with  life;  for  it  atones  for 
the  injustice,  removes  the  unrest,  and  ends  the 
suffering.  Death  bestows  what  we  ask  of  life ;  it  is 
the  final  bond,  which,  freeing  us,  re-unites  us  with 
mankind ;  it  is  the  portal  where,  with  a  glad  smile, 
we  meet  all  those  who  were  for  or  against  us  in  this 
world.  After  golden  days  of  happiness,  what  more 
perfect  ending  could  we  ask  than  slumber  ?  After 
the  wretched  existence  of  the  poor,  what  can  com- 
fort and  compensate  more  fully  than  rest  ?  This 
earth  is  so  rich  in  sunlight  and  joy,  but  it  is  sancti- 


Godless  295 

fied  to  us  by  death  alone.  Death  makes  life  beauti- 
ful, and  life  justifies  death.  Nature  resists  as  long 
as  possible;  it  is  her  duty  to  live.  But  it  is  our 
duty  to  lay  our  bodies,  with  which  we  have  enjoyed 
this  world,  thankfully  and  willingly  to  rest.  Our 
forefathers  have  made  a  place  for  us,  have  be- 
queathed to  us  that  for  which  they  struggled  on 
earth.  And  we  perform  the  same  service  for  our 
descendants.  I  am  satisfied.  If  my  God  does  not 
regret  having  lent  me  the  light  of  life  for  this  short 
period,  I  have  no  complaint  to  make." 

Thus  the  fire  guardian  thought  and  brooded ; 
then  his  glance  would  fall  upon  Sela,  that  young 
life  which  was  expanding  in  the  sunlight  beside  the 
old  decaying  stem,  and  was  approaching  the  season 
for  buds  and  flowers. 

At  times  the  girl  would  gaze  earnestly  at  the  old 
man's  face,  for  it  seemed  so  strange  to  her.  He 
realised  how  thin  and  wasted  he  had  grown.  His 
heart  was  still  warm  and  bright,  although  his  eyes 
were  sunken  and  dim,  now  seldom  brightened  by 
other  light  than  that  of  the  fire  on  his  hearth,  shin- 
ing upon  him  with  such  friendly  warmth. 

His  thoughts  were  ever  with  the  fire.  "  By  its 
glow,  in  days  gone  by,  children  have  listened  to 
the  legends  of  Odin  and  lovers  have  exchanged  the 
betrothal  ring.  Over  it  wedding  feasts  have  been 
prepared ;  in  its  burning  embers  swords  have  been 
forged  to  fight  the  enemy;  here  gold  has  been  re- 
fined and  human  hearts  purified.  Thou  beloved  fire 
come  down  from  past  ages,  thou  faithful  friend, 
soon  shall  I  require  the  last  service  of  thee! " 


^9^  The  God  Seeker 

One  evening,  as  the  full  moon  was  shining  into 
the  gorge  from  above  the  tree-tops,  the  fire  guar- 
dian was  sitting  before  his  hut,  holding  his  child  on 
his  knees. 

"  My  Sela,"  said  he,  in  a  low  voice,  "  thou  lovest 
me?" 

The  child's  face  grew  serious  and  she  bowed  her 
head. 

"And  if  I  should  tell  thee  something  which  thou 
must  do,  wouldst  thou  do  it  ? " 

"  I  will  always  do  what  thou  wishest,  father." 
"  I  love  thee,  my  child,  and  shall  love  thee,  even 
when  I  can  no  longer  tell  thee  so.  For  see,  my 
Sela,  there  will  come  a  time  when  I  shall  sleep. 
When  thy  mother  fell  asleep  thou  wast  in  thy  bed, 
— I  would  not  wake  thee.  Do  not  go  far  away  from 
the  hut  to-morrow  or  for  the  next  few  days.  Stay 
with  me  and  braid  thy  mats.  When  I  am  sitting  on 
the  bench  asleep,  listen  to  my  breathing.  If  it  is 
hard,  like  that  of  a  tired  man  when  he  lays  down 
his  burden,  then,  child,  light  a  candle  at  the  ances- 
tral fire  and  place  it  in  my  hand.  Thou  must  not 
try  to  wake  me,  Sela;  the  hard  breathing  will  soon 
be  over,  and  I  shall  sleep  quietly.  Then  take  the 
candle  from  me,  put  it  into  the  lantern  which  hangs 
over  the  bed,  and  carry  it  to  Trawies,  where  Wahn- 
fred  lives.  Give  him  the  light  and  say:  'The  fire 
guardian  delivers  the  fire  into  thy  hands.'  " 


CHAPTER  XI 

FOR  a  certain  period  after  Wahnfred's  return  to 
Trawies  and  while  Gallo  Weissbucher  was  pre- 
paring for  his  end,  the  thread  of  the  narrative  seems 
to  be  somewhat  broken.  A  tradition  is  still  extant 
of  dark  deeds  and  horrible  crimes  which  occurred 
during  the  long  years  of  the  ban,  and  which  were 
doubtless  connected  with  Trawies.  We  may  then 
suppose  that  the  place  was  entirely  outlawed  as  well 
as  excommunicated,  for  how  could  the  disorder  and 
crime,  the  helplessness  and  despair  of  the  people  be 
otherwise  explained? 

In  Oberkloster  has  been  found  an  old  record  tell- 
ing of  a  forest  from  which  there  is  no  return.  The 
ruined,  the  outcast,  the  friendless,  the  homeless, 
the  godless,  go  there  and  are  never  seen  again.  For 
there  is  a  ring  of  fire  about  that  forest;  it  is  cut  off 
and  cursed.  Anyone  may  enter,  no  one  may  come 
forth.  One  fable  tells  us  within  is  paradise;  an- 
other, within  is  hell. 

This  record  undoubtedly  refers  to  the  outcast 
Trawies,  where  all  kinds  of  vagabonds  and  lawless 
people  collected,  who  for  a  short  time  lived  a  life  of 
utter  license,  and  then  died  a  miserable  death.  The 
authorities,  engaged  with  the  military  movement  in 

297 


29S  The  God  Seeker 

the  country  outside,  seem  to  have  entirely  with- 
drawn from  the  region,  only  keeping  watch  over  the 
boundary  of  the  unfortunate  district,  without  troub- 
ling themselves  concerning  that  which  took  place 
within.  Was  it  thought  that  the  people  of  Trawies 
would  consume  themselves?  Or  was  there  hope  that 
they  would  yet  fall  prostrate  before  the  cross,  per- 
form solemn  penances,  and  implore  to  be  again  re- 
ceived into  the  Church  and  the  Empire?  But  both 
had  been  awaited  in  vain,  and  no  one  imagined  that 
in  the  forests  of  the  Trach  a  mighty  force  Avas  gath- 
ering, whose  terrible  deeds  were  affecting  all  the 
neighbouring  country  and  which  no  opposition 
could  repel.  Tales  are  told  of  robber  bands  from 
these  forests  which  fell  upon  and  destroyed  farms 
and  sometimes  entire  villages.  Highway  robberies 
and  murders  were  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Trawies. 

Soldiers  forced  their  way  into  this  nest,  only  to 
be  repelled  or  massacred.  At  the  Gestade,  on  the 
spot  where  Wahnfred's  house  once  stood,  a  regular 
battle  is  said  to  have  been  fought.  The  rabble  from 
Trawies  were  victorious;  the  dead  warriors  were 
carried  down  by  the  Trach  to  the  "  Five  Pines,"  on 
the  heathland,  where  they  were  washed  up  on  the 
sand. 

There  were  also  quarrels,  robberies,  and  deeds  of 
violence  among  the  people  of  Trawies  themselves. 
But  there  was  one  of  their  number  who,  for  a  short 
period,  succeeded  in  keeping  a  certain  order;  other- 
wise it  would  have  been  impossible  for  this  outcast 
community  to  maintain  itself. 


Godless  299 

This  will  suffice  to  give  some  idea  of  the  horror. 
The  narrator,  who  has  endeavoured  to  explore,  not 
the  dusty  chronicle  alone,  but  also  that  unfailing 
source,  the  human  heart,  alludes  to  these  terrible 
events  in  the  shadows  of  the  forest  only  as  they  are 
interwoven  with  the  fortunes  of  that  man  who  was 
the  originator  of  the  evil  and  who  was  now  earnestly 
striving  to  restore  in  the  hearts  of  these  people  their 
lost  heaven  and  to  lead  the  unhappy  parish  back  to 
God. 

Wahnfred  had  frequent  opportunities  to  make 
himself  useful,  but  the  results  were  meagre.  He 
was  constantly  doing  for  others.  A  hungry  man 
never  left  his  door  unsatisfied;  he  divided  with  him 
his  last  crust,  and  for  this  Christian  act  of  breaking 
bread — that  greatest  miracle  of  love — many  thought 
that  in  the  carpenter  they  recognised  the  Christ. 

Wahnfred  lived  for  a  long  time  in  the  house  of 
the  outcast  fire  guardian  by  the  Trach.  He  was 
called  the  captain,  and  the  people  cringed  before 
him,  feted  him,  and  showed  him  every  honour — but 
they  did  as  they  pleased.  His  plan  apparently  to 
enter  into  their  projects,  that  he  might  then  guide 
them,  had  failed.  They  listened  to  his  speeches, 
agreed  to  his  arrangements,  only  to  follow  their  own 
desires  and  passions  the  very  next  moment.  They 
were  the  children  of  that  age  when  people  tampered 
with  all  kinds  of  sorceries  and  witchcraft,  which  in 
their  case  were  for  the  most  part  unsuccessful. 
Many  practised  conjuring  the  devil,  going  about 
with  the  idea  that  he  was  their  servant.  They  also 
sold  themselves  to  the  devil  in  exchange  for  worldly 


300  The  God  Seeker 

goods.  But  with  all  this  they  felt  the  need  of  a  king 
and  high-priest.  They  swore  to  Wahnfred  to  give 
up  their  robberies,  only  to  surprise  him  soon  after- 
ward with  the  richest  treasures  which  they  had  cap- 
tured on  their  last  expedition. 

They  made  him  absolute  master  over  life  and 
death,  but  if  he  pronounced  a  verdict  of  punishment 
upon  anyone,  they  laughed  in  his  face.  And  he 
could  only  have  carried  out  his  sentences  by  possess- 
ing more  strength  than  this  defiant,  jeering  mob. 

Wahnfred  bore  it  patiently,  always  hoping  for  a 
change.  He  continued  to  be  the  central  point  in 
Trawies.  The  boundaries  remained  enclosed;  the 
inhabitants  themselves  had  now  assumed  the  watch, 
and  in  their  fanaticism  and  rage  against  those  who 
had  fled  killed  everyone  who  attempted  to  return. 

At  last  Wahnfred  made  out  a  petition,  an  implor- 
ing cry  to  humanity  for  mercy,  and  carried  it  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Trawies  for  their  signatures. 

"  Are  we  such  children  that  we  should  beg  for  the 
rod  ?  "  they  answered.  "  We  have  no  wish  to  return 
to  slavery.  They  would  only  hang  us,  and  as  a  last 
resort  we  can  do  that  ourselves." 

"  You  have  forgotten  that  men  still  live  on  this 
earth!"  cried  Wahnfred.  "If  they  promise  us 
mercy,  they  will  grant  it." 

"  We  do  not  want  it.  Their  mercy  would  con- 
sist in  sending  us  against  the  Turks." 

Then  Wahnfred  tried  strategy.  He  went  to  the 
oldest,  the  natives  of  Trawies,  in  whom  he  hoped  to 
find  some  love  of  justice  and  in  whom  lingered  a 
desire  for  law  and  order,  for  the  prayer-book  and 


Godless  301 

the  Bible  ;  there  were  but  few  such  left,  but  to 
them  he  went,  asking  for  their  signatures. 

"  Prepare  your  weapons,"  said  one,  "  for  you 
may  have  to  write  your  names  with  blood." 

They  made  ready  their  weapons,  rusty  tools, 
utensils  of  the  forest  and  field  ;  they  concealed  them 
in  the  corners  of  their  houses  and  caves  and  under 
their  beds,  awaiting  the  revolt. 

But  Wahnfred  went  on  collecting  signatures  and 
crosses, — only  a  few  could  write  their  names,  the 
most  made  crosses, — and  soon  the  large  sheet  was 
filled. 

Wahnfred's  heart  rejoiced.  He  was  convinced 
that  the  removal  of  the  ban  could  not  be  refused 
when  it  was  seen  that  the  Trawiesers  were  willing  to 
repent  and  submit  to  the  authorities.  For  himself, 
he  longed  for — the  executioner's  block.  His  judge 
should  pronounce  no  other  sentence  than  the  axe. 
But  before  he  ascended  the  steps  of  the  scaffold  he 
would  first  make  a  pilgrimage  to  the  pope  and  to 
the  rulers  of  the  land  to  implore  their  mercy  for 
Trawies,  which  through  his  deed  had  been  plunged 
into  such  misery. 

Wahnfred  was  making  arrangements  to  send  this 
petition,  which  pledged  the  loyalty  of  Trawies  for 
all  time,  by  messengers  to  whom  he  had  assured  a 
safe  escort  across  the  boundary,  when  they  suddenly 
turned  upon  him,  asking  what  it  was  all  about. 

He  read  the  petition  to  them  once  more  and  they 
laughed  aloud.     He  showed  them  their  signatures. 

"  Where  ?  "  they  asked.  He  pointed  to  the  nu- 
merous crosses. 


^02  The  God  Seeker 

"That  means  a  graveyard!"  they  exclaimed, 
**  and  would  take  us  there  at  once." 

"  That  scrap  of  writing  will  not  give  us  conse- 
crated ground  again,"  said  the  peasant  Isidor; 
"  throw  it  away,  carpenter." 

"  But  your  signature!  " 

"  The  cross  has  no  value  now  in  Trawies;  you 
know  that,  carpenter."  And  they  tore  the  paper  in 
pieces. 

That  night  Wahnfred,  gazing  from  his  window  at 
the  stars,  which  formed  a  long  path  of  light  across 
the  sky  out  towards  the  inhabited  plains,  thought  of 
flight.  He  could  go  across  the  Ritscher  forest  and 
by  the  cliffs  of  the  Trasank,  thus  escaping  the 
region  of  Trawies,  and  yonder  in  foreign  lands  serve 
mankind  more  profitably  than  here.  But  then  his 
oath  to  stay  by  this  unfortunate  people  and  either 
to  conquer  or  perish  with  them  occurred  to  him. 

He  occasionally  went  up  to  Bart's  to  see  his 
growing  son  and  to  give  him  instruction.  Erie- 
fried  only  half  listened  while  his  father  was  speak- 
ing, looked  at  him  coldly,  then  left  him.  The 
inhabitants  of  Trawies  had  plundered  Bart  of  nearly 
everything.  But  at  the  same  time  they  had  shaken 
his  hand  in  a  friendly  way,  begging  him  not  to  be 
offended,  for  this  was  the  new  custom.  They  had 
also  advised  him  to  join  them  and  to  take  his  share 
of  the  booty.  Bart  did  not  join  them,  however,  did 
not  even  go  down  to  the  valley,  but  planted  his 
grain  and  vegetables  in  isolated  parts  of  the  forest; 
he  gathered  wild  fruit  and  concealed  it  as  well  as  he 
could  from  the  robbers.     The  wandering  bands  of 


Godless  303 

young  men  and  women  willingly  passed  the  old  man 
by,  but  they  had  discovered  in  the  house  in  the  Tarn 
a  fine  young  lad,  whom  they  hoped  soon  to  have 
with  them  in  their  ranks. 

Erlefried  was  as  loth  as  his  foster-father  to  ac- 
company the  band,  and  was  constantly  obliged  to 
flee  from  them.  His  favourite  place  of  refuge  was 
down  in  the  Diirbach  gorge,  where  a  sweet  little 
maid  was  patiently  nursing  her  dying  father  in  their 
lonely  home.  He  performed  many  a  kind  office  for 
these  poor  people.  But  he  was  frequently  forced  to 
flee  to  the  mountains  or  into  the  depths  of  the  Rit- 
scher  forest,  for  his  father  had  said  to  him:  "  Thou 
art  innocent,  thou  must  keep  out  of  sight.  Go  into 
the  wilderness  among  the  wolves  rather  than  join 
the  people  of  Trawies." 

The  young  man  had  one  experience  which  proved 
the  cleverness  of  Bart's  household,  and  this  finally 
ended  the  pursuit  of  the  carpenter's  son  by  the 
rabble. 

It  was  during  the  winter.  Bart's  house  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  wall  of  snow  formed  by  the  wind. 
Through  this  wall  an  entrance  had  been  cut,  and  a 
footpath  had  been  shovelled  leading  to  the  valley. 

Mistress  Bart  sat  in  the  gloomy  room,  spinning 
yarn  from  flax  grown  the  previous  summer  upon  an 
isolated  clearing  of  the  Birstling.  Bart  usually  sat 
near  her  at  his  loom,  but  to-day  he  was  out  in  front 
of  the  house,  on  a  bit  of  bare  ground  protected  from 
the  snow  by  a  crudely  improvised  roof  of  boards. 
He  and  Erlefried  were  busy  killing  a  young  pig  for 
the  approaching  Christmas, 


304  The  God  Seeker 

And  while  these  four  inhabitants  of  this  mountain 
home  were  thus  occupied,  in  spinning,  in  kilh'ng,  and 
the  pig  in  dying,  a  little  boy  came  running  up  from 
Stossnickel's  hut,  with  a  breathless  "  Good  after- 
noon! " 

"  Good  afternoon  to  thee,"  answered  Erlefried, 
and  he  added  good-naturedly,  "Come  here,  Natz, 
and  I  '11  cut  off  thy  ears,"  which  office  he  had  just 
performed  for  the  pig. 

Little  Natz  was  neither  frightened  nor  impressed 
by  this  offer,  but  stepped  up  to  the  men  lisping: 

"  They  are  coming!  " 

"Who?" 

"  The  people  are  coming!  " 

"  What  kind  of  people  ?  " 

"  The  Trawiesers.  I  saw  them  down  there,  and 
they  '11  be  here  in  no  time." 

Erlefried  started.  The  Trawiesers !  Then  he  must 
flee,  for  he  already  knew  that  they  were  searching 
for  him  in  earnest  to  join  their  band.  That  he 
would  not  do;  he  must  escape  from  them  if  possi- 
ble. But  where,  at  this  season  ?  The  snow  blocked 
every  path:  grinding  his  teeth,  the  lad  grasped  the 
bloody  knife.  The  old  man  had  let  his  fall  and  was 
calling  upon  God  and  the  saints. 

"  Thou  old  simpleton,"  cried  his  wife  from  the 
house,  "  at  such  times  one  should  call  upon  the 
devil;  he  is  the  only  one  who  can  help  us  with 
these  people.  Run,  Erlefried,  and  crawl  into  the 
straw." 

"  'T  would  be  the  most  stupid  thing  he  could 
do,"  said  Bart;  "  if  they  know  he  is  here  they  '11 


Godless  305 

turn  the  house  upside  down  until  they  find  him. 
Why  not  bury  thyself  in  the  snow,  Erlefried  ? " 

'*  It  will  do  no  good,"  said  the  lad;  "  if  they  are 
bound  to  have  me  they  won't  go  away  without  me. 
They  set  fire  to  Josa-Hannes's  house,  and  at  last 
the  heat  and  smoke  drove  him  from  his  hiding- 
place.  To  run  up  the  mountain  would  also  be  use- 
less; I  could  not  make  any  progress  in  this  snow 
— and  then  the  tracks!  " 

"  'T  is  a  living  shame,  boy,  if  thou  canst  not  get 
away  from  these  brutes!  "  cried  the  woman  in  tears. 

"  I  think  so  too,"  replied  Erlefried,  helplessly. 

"  I  have  just  thought  of  something  if  thou  art 
only  clever  enough,"  said  the  woman. 

Bart  replied:  "  I  think,  old  woman,  that  all  of  us 
together  have  as  much  sense  as  thou  alone." 

Turning  towards  the  little  messenger,  who  was 
still  waiting,  she  said:  "  Natz,  thou  art  a  good  lad, 
and  if  thou  wilt  come  next  Sunday  I  will  give  thee 
the  kidneys  from  the  pig.  Now,  hurry  down  the 
path  as  fast  as  thou  canst.  When  the  people  see 
thee  and  ask  where  thou  art  going,  tell  them  there 
has  been  shooting  at  Bart-from-Tarn's  to-day,  and 
that  thou  must  go  for  the  grave-digger.  Then  hurry 
on  and  be  prudent." 

The  boy  started  and  Bart  called  to  his  wife : 
"  Thou  stupid,  what 's  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?" 

Passing  her  hand  over  the  whitewashed  stove  she 
wiped  it  on  Erlefried's  face  until  he  was  as  pale  as 
a  corpse. 

"  Now,  child,  thou  hast  the  right  colour!  In 
Gottesnamen,  lie  down  on  the  bier." 


3o6  The  God  Seeker 

They  understood  at  last. 

"  Perhaps  we  shall  succeed.  We  've  nothing  to 
lose  by  it." 

They  discussed  the  matter  hastily,  smeared  the 
boy's  hair  with  blood ;  the  clothes  were  already 
somewhat  bespattered.  While  Bart  was  burying 
the  pig  outside  in  the  snow,  his  wife  was  laying 
Erlefried  out  upon  the  bench  between  the  spinning- 
wheel  and  the  stove.  He  stretched  his  slender, 
well-formed  limbs  upon  the  board,  crossed  his  arms 
upon  his  breast,  let  his  bloody  head  fall  backwards, 
the  unkempt  locks  hanging  over  the  bench.  The 
woman  then  placed  a  carved  crucifix  in  his  hand, 
hung  a  rosary  upon  it,  and,  as  was  the  custom 
among  the  peasants  at  that  time,  laid  dried  daisies 
upon  his  breast.  She  covered  his  body  with  a  large 
linen  cloth,  saying:  "  Now  do  not  stir  again." 

She  then  arranged  a  few  things  near  the  bier 
which  are  accessories  of  the  dead,  among  others 
the  burning  lamp.  When  all  was  finished,  she 
stood  a  while  quite  still,  then  whispered  anxiously: 
"  Speak,  Erlefried!  " 

The  dead  man  did  as  he  was  asked  and  the 
woman  was  reassured. 

Bart  now  hastened  in:  "  Is  it  ready  ?  They  are 
coming  up  the  hill." 

Seeing  Erlefried  lying  there  he  started  back  in 
fright,  then  smiled. 

A  number  of  men  already  stood  before  the  house, 
a  lot  of  miserable  wretches,  staring  fixedly  at  the 
bloody  snow  where  a  few  moments  before  had  lain 
the  little  pig.     They  attempted  to  enter  the  house, 


Godless  3^7 

but  Bart's  wife  met  them  screaming:  "  It  's  time 
you  came,  people,  it  's  time  you  came;  there  's  no 
more  living  in  this  place!  " 

"  What  has  happened  ?"  they  asked. 

"  Robbers  have  been  here  and  have  killed  the 
boy.  Don't  you  see  that  blood  ?  Jesus  Maria,  it 
makes  me  faint  to  look  at  it!  " 

She  played  her  part  well.  Bart  crouched  upon  a 
bench  by  his  loom. 

The  men  who  had  entered  the  house  looked  with 
uncertain  glances  at  the  bier,  dimly  lighted  by  the 
little  lamp.  They  then  seated  themselves  at  the 
table  and  noisily  demanded  food. 

The  woman  brought  some  watery  milk.  She  was 
obliged  to  taste  of  it  herself  first,  for  the  people  no 
longer  trusted  each  other. 

"  Don't  you  worry!  "  she  cried;  "  if  I  had  poison 
in  the  house,  I  would  n't  spare  it,  you  may  be  sure 
of  that.  I  do  not  care  to  live  any  longer  in  such  a 
world!"  And  she  burst  into  tears,  her  cries  re- 
sounding throughout  the  house. 

The  rabble  devoured  the  bread  and  milk,  and  a 
few  began  a  search  for  something  better. 

The  woman,  busying  herself  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  bier,  noticed  that  Erlefried  was  trying 
to  repress  a  sneeze.  Hastening  to  the  spinning- 
wheel,  she  set  the  clattering  thing  in  motion.  Bart 
comprehended.     He  rose  slowly. 

"What  is  the  use  of  despairing?"  he  sighed. 
"  No  God  can  change  things  for  us  now.  Work 
alone  will  save  us!"  And  seating  himself  before 
his  loom  he  began  to  weave  as  noisily  as  possible. 


3o8  The  God  Seeker 

till  the  men  were  unable  to  hear  each  other's  voices, 
and  the  lad  on  the  bier  could  sneeze  to  his  heart's 
content. 

At  last  the  intruders  arose  and  one  of  them,  seiz- 
ing the  old  woman  by  the  arm,  said  :  "  Uncover  the 
body! " 

"  Whoever  wants  to  see  it  must  uncover  it  him- 
self," she  replied.  The  man  approached  the  bier, 
drew  back  the  cloth  from  the  head,  thus  disclosing 
a  pale,  distorted  face.  Starting  back  aghast,  he 
whispered :  "  'T  is  the  son  of  our  captain !  " 

"  Murder  for  murder,  that  is  the  way  this  world 
retaliates!"  muttered  a  man  in  the  crowd. 

Then,  shuddering,  they  left  the  house.  When 
they  were  gone,  the  woman  wiped  the  sweat  from 
her  face  and  Bart  said:  "  I  prayed  with  all  my  heart 
that  it  might  succeed.     Now,  Erlefried,  get  up." 

The  lad  rose,  washed  himself,  and  murmured : 
"  I  '11  never  do  that  again!  " 

"Thou  wilt  not  need  to,"  said  the  woman; 
"  they  think  thou  art  dead  now,  and  will  leave  thee 
alone.     And  things  must  be  better  some  time!  " 

No  further  search  was  made  for  Erlefried,  the  car- 
penter's son.  Even  Wahnfred  supposed  for  a  time 
that  his  child  had  been  murdered.  He  made  no 
complaint;  he  considered  it  God's  judgment  and 
wept  thankful  tears  that  Erlefried  had  left  him  dur- 
ing the  innocent  years  of  his  life. 


CHAPTER   XII 

AT  times  Wahnfred  felt  benumbed  and  discour- 
aged, but  all  the  more  did  he  sacrifice  himself 
forTrawies,  which  was  being  dragged  down  by  every 
possible  ill.  He  did  not  realise  how  much  energy 
he  possessed ;  his  life,  hitherto  withdrawn  from  ex- 
ternal things,  had  been  a  subjective  one.  He 
searched  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  for  light  to 
illumine  the  horrible  darkness  enveloping  himself 
and  his  fellow-beings.  But  he  had  grown  to  hate 
the  Bible;  it  had  led  him  astray, — had,  as  it  were, 
placed  the  murderer's  axe  in  his  hand.  The  wrath- 
ful laws  of  the  Old  Testament,  had  they  not  actu- 
ally challenged  him  to  perform  the  deed  ?  And 
even  in  the  New  Testament  he  had  found  no  help. 
From  this  book,  called  the  legacy  of  love,  had  been 
drawn  the  horrible  curse  pronounced  upon  them. 
The  Old  Testament  had  provided  the  parish  of  Tra- 
wies  with  an  inhuman  criminal ;  the  New,  with  in- 
human judges!  His  heart  filled  with  passionate 
longing,  he  searched  for  a  new  revelation.  He  re- 
garded himself  as  a  Moses  in  the  wilderness,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  lead  his  lost  people  towards  a  brighter 
future,  and  to  seek  for  ways  and  laws  to  guide  their 
erring  footsteps. 

309 


3IO  The  God  Seeker 

One  night,  after  a  sad  and  weaiy  day,  as  he  lay 
upon  a  bench  outside  of  his  house,  it  came  to  him 
suddenly,  as  if  he  were  listening  to  a  strange  voice 
— man's  struggles  are  all  in  vain,  the  world  belongs 
to  the  devil !  Was  there  not  some  such  declaration 
in  the  "  Revelations  of  a  Pious  Hermit,"  which  he 
had  found  in  the  hermitage  ?  He  had  cast  the 
thought  from  him,  but  he  had  now  experienced 
such  striking  proofs  of  the  truth  of  the  statement 
that  he  began  again  to  consider  it,  brooding  over  it 
day  and  night. 

He  finally  resolved  to  leave  the  house  by  the 
Trach  and  to  flee  from  the  people  of  Trawies,  who 
were  heaping  crime  upon  crime  and  who  had  chosen 
him  for  their  leader ;  he  would  not  go  beyond  the 
ring  of  fire,  but  into  still  greater  solitudes  of  the 
forest,  there  to  ponder  the  strange  doctrine  from 
which  he  hoped  to  evolve  a  new  teaching  to  save 
this  perishing  people. 

Near  the  summit  of  the  Johannesberg,  upon  a 
small  clearing  close  to  the  precipice,  where  the  rising 
sun  casts  its  rays  while  the  other  peaks  are  still 
wrapped  in  darkness,  and  from  where  a  view  may  be 
had  far  and  wide  over  Trawies,  stood  at  that  time  a 
human  habitation.  It  was  the  roughly  built  hut  of 
a  poor  woman,  who  had  watched  the  lierds  of  the 
Trawies  peasants  during  the  summer  months.  She 
was  the  widow  of  a  wood-cutter,  and  beyond  this 
fact  no  one  knew  aught  of  her  and  her  child,  until 
the  attention  of  the  people  was  excited  as  they  ac- 
cidentally learned  that  the  child  had  grown  into  an 
extraordinarily  beautiful  young  girl.     And  one  day 


Godless  3^1 

the  widow  was  found  strangled  in  her  hut  and  the 
girl  had  disappeared,  leaving  no  trace  behind  her. 

This  was  the  roof  which  now  afforded  Wahnfred 
shelter.  Here  he  planned  to  lead  the  life  of  a  her- 
mit, and  here  he  hoped  to  discover  the  true  way  to 
salvation. 

He  told  the  people  that  he  was  going  away  and 
that  they  must  not  ask  him  where.  He  promised 
to  watch  over  them,  and  some  day  to  appear  again 
among  them  in  glory  and  power. 

He  saw  how  attentively  they  listened  to  his 
words,  he  saw  their  inclination  towards  the  mysteri- 
ous, even  as  he  had  already  noticed  in  these  poor 
outcasts  an  inner  longing  for  some  religious  faith. 
In  their  hearts  they  felt  a  certain  anxiety,  although 
desiring  something  quite  different  from  what  Wahn- 
fred was  seeking.  They  wished  to  enjoy  with  their 
senses:  Wahnfred  sought  the  peace  of  the  soul. 
They  wished  for  heaven  :  Wahnfred  sought  for  God. 

They  swore  that  he  should  still  remain  their  cap- 
tain. They  did  not  realise  how  he  suffered,  nor 
what  he  was  planning;  they  were  made  of  a  differ- 
ent wood  from  that  found  in  the  workshop  of  this 
carpenter. 

Wahnfred  now  took  up  his  abode  in  the  hut  on 
the  Johannesberg.  He  brooded,  he  dreamed,  the 
strange  "  Revelation  "  germinating  and  growing  in 
his  heart.  After  he  had  remained  in  seclusion  for 
months,  one  morning  at  the  foot  of  the  Dreiwand, 
just  below  the  spot  where  the  people's  church  and 
heaven  had  been  taken  from  them,  the  following 
mysterious  writing  appeared : 


312  The  God  Seeker 

"  First:  God  creates  heaven  and  the  angels  to 
dwell  therein. 

"  Second:  The  angels  become  rebellious  before 
God  and  He  casts  them  out  into  a  wilderness  called 
Earth.  There  they  live  in  bodies  of  clay  and  are 
given  over  to  trouble.  Before  their  souls  may  leave 
these  bodies,  they  shall  do  penance  for  their  arrog- 
ance by  a  life  of  humility;  they  shall  expiate  their 
selfishness  by  self-renunciation. 

"  Third:  Those  who  succeed  in  this  may  ascend 
to  the  eternal  heaven ;  those  who  fail,  return  to  an 
earthly  body,  and  they  continue  to  return  until  they 
are  freed  from  sin." 

Through  the  dewy  branches  of  the  trees  the  sun- 
light fell  upon  the  stone,  before  which  the  people 
had  gathered  to  see  the  strange  writing,  their  excite- 
ment increasing  as  they  endeavoured  to  interpret  its 
meaning. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  hunter  from  the  Trasank, 
"I  have  often  had  the  feeling  of  having  lived  many 
different  lives  in  this  world." 

"  I  think  I  still  have  traces  of  Herod  in  me,"  said 
Little  Baumhackel;  but  another  man  retorted, 
"  You  seem  more  like  Judas  to  me." 

"  I  must  be  Abraham  with  my  house  full  of 
children,"  said  the  peasant  Isidor. 

"  Oh!  "  cried  another,  "  he  never  came  back  to 
earth ;  he  was  a  good  man  and  has  long  been  resting 
in  Abraham's  bosom." 

"  Who  ?  He,  himself  ?"  asked  one  of  the  men 
with  a  laugh. 

"This    writing    explains,"    said    Roderich,   the 


Godless  313 

tramp,  "  why  we  always  say  of  a  good  man,  when 
he  dies:  *  He  will  never  come  back  again.'  " 

Thus  they  interpreted  the  new  revelation,  and 
after  they  had  jested  about  it  to  their  hearts'  con- 
tent, they  ceased  thinking  of  it  and  continued  in 
their  accustomed  ways,  which  grew  more  evil  from 
day  to  day. 

Wahnfred  perceived  that  the  words  on  the  Drei- 
wand  were  not  the  right  ones,  but  he  did  not  rest; 
he  sought  with  his  brain,  he  sought  with  his  heart 
for  a  Saviour,  for  a  God.  How  and  where  he  would 
find  Him  and  what  the  expiation  would  be — did  he 
dream  that  ? 

In  a  side  gorge  of  the  Rockenbach  stood  the  little 
house  of  the  wood-carver,  Zirmer,  who  by  peddling 
his  wares  in  the  country  outside  earned  a  bare  living 
for  himself  and  his  large  family.  At  the  time  the 
ban  was  placed  upon  Trawies,  he  was  absent  on  one 
of  his  wanderings.  On  hearing  of  the  misery  that 
had  come  to  his  home,  he  turned  about  at  once, 
walking  day  and  night  to  reach  his  family.  The 
last  night  of  his  journey  he  stopped  with  a  rela- 
tive in  Neubruck,  who  sought  to  keep  him,  tell- 
ing him  to  thank  God  that  he  was  outside  the  ring 
of  fire,  and  that  he  should  not  think  of  returning  to 
Trawies,  where  everything  had  been  cursed.  Zirmer 
paid  no  heed  to  this  advice;  his  feverish  brain 
thought  only  of  his  wife  and  children.  The  sentinels 
at  the  "  Five  Pines  "  grinned  jeeringly  as  he  passed 
by.  When  he  reached  his  house,  he  fell  exhausted 
at  the  door,  and  now  he  lay  ill  and  dying.  His 
wife  remained  faithfully  and  courageously  by  his 


3H  The  God  Seeker 

side,  but  when  she  was  alone  or  her  husband  slept, 
she  wept  bitterly.  "To  be  in  such  distress,"  she 
cried,  "such  dire  distress  and  to  have  no  helper  on 
earth  or  in  heaven !  And  here  art  thou,  my  good 
husband,  come  home  to  die,  and  we  have  no  Saviour 
for  thee.  If  mankind  could  only  realise  how  sweet, 
how  trifling  is  all  earthly  suffering,  if  one  may  only 
hope  for  God's  mercy  in  the  life  eternal!  But  to 
be  in  such  misery  —  and  to  have  no  God!  deserted, 
lost  forever — forever!  " 

The  sick  man  only  said:  "Let  me  die!  Let  me 
die  quietly  and  follow  me  soon ! " 

"Where  then?"  she  cried.  "  When  I  think 
where  we  must  go,  I  tremble.  We  are  damned,  we 
are  already  in  hell." 

When  the  poor  woman  heard  of  the  writing  on 
the  Dreiwand,  a  cry  of  joy  burst  from  her  lips  and 
she  wept  aloud. 

"  Praise  God !  Thank  God !  "  she  said ;  "  we  shall 
find  our  God  again  !  " 

Such  was  the  passionate  longing  for  the  comforts 
of  religion  in  many  souls  of  the  outcast  Trawies. 

Wahnfred  sat  in  his  mountain  hut  reflecting  and 
brooding.  It  was  the  month  of  May  and  nearing 
Whitsuntide.  "  Nowhere  in  the  world,"  he  once 
thought,  "can  this  season  be  so  lovely  as  in  our 
region ;  but  only  upon  peaceful  hearts  does  the 
sacred  dove  bestow  the  blessings  of  Whitsuntide." 

In  such  hours  the  man  was  almost  happy.  The 
tender  forget-me-nots  looked  up  at  him  affection- 
ately, as  still  reminders  of  her  who  had  once  taken 


Godless  315 

so  loving  a  part  in  his  life.  A  short  time  ago,  a 
dandelion  was  holding  up  its  golden  basket  to  re- 
ceive the  diamond  dew-drops;  to-day  its  hair  is 
white  and  a  gentle  breeze  is  thinning  its  locks. 
High  above  in  the  sky  glows  the  sun-star,  casting 
its  burning  rays  upon  the  beings  of  the  earth  who 
are  thirsting  for  light.  Whitsuntide!  Only  a  few 
months  ago  the  year  was  lying  stiff  and  cold  ;  it  now 
rises  in  renewed  youth,  like  the  miraculous  bird  in 
the  fairy  tale. 

"Is  it  then  true,"  thought  Wahnfred,  "that 
man's  inclinations  are  so  evil  ?  We  stand  erect, 
our  feet  treading  upon  flowers,  our  brain  nourished 
by  the  light  of  heaven.  The  sorrow  of  the  heart, 
what  is  it  but  a  longing  for  goodness  and  happi- 
ness ?  Is  it  a  misfortune  if  we  are  sometimes 
threatened  by  the  darkness  of  storms  ?  Storms 
bring  lightning  which  illumines  our  minds  with  its 
fiery  tongues.  Were  there  no  night,  who  could 
gaze  into  the  starlit  sky  ?  But  they  come,  the  un- 
grateful sons  of  earth,  and  cry,  *  The  mother  is 
evil ! '  And  they  think  that  they  prove  it.  But  I 
say,  '  She  is  good  ! '  and  I  do  not  need  to  prove  it. 
Doubt  has  entered  my  heart ;  sorrow  has  clutched 
me  by  the  hair;  hate  has  poisoned  me;  love  has 
tortured  me ;  injustice  have  I  experienced, — yet  a 
thousandfold  more  injustice  have  I  done! 

"  Over  beyond  these  mountains  are  here  and  there 
patches  resembling  silvery  lakes,  upon  which  sun- 
light and  shadow  are  playing.  Those  are  cornfields. 
The  budding  ears  are  listening  to  the  song  of  the 
lark,  as  they  turn  skyward,  asking  for  sunshine — 


3i6  The  God  Seeker 

their  Whitsuntide  prayer.  Their  ambition  is  to 
ripen,  but  the  ripening  means  their  destruction ;  at 
least  that  is  how  we  men  interpret  it.  The  grain  of 
corn  is  buried  in  the  earth,  and  the  next  year  its 
stalks  will  again  be  waving  in  the  wind — perhaps  in 
greater  abundance  than  to-day.  Life  does  not 
diminish,  it  increases!" 

Wahnfred  then  looked  out  once  more  into  the 
distance.  A  soft  haze  lay  over  mountain  and  val- 
ley; the  waters  of  the  Trach,  the  Miesing,  and  the 
Rockenberg  glistened  like  silver  chains  amid  the 
green  meadows,  and  the  walls  of  the  closed  and 
ruined  church  shimmered  like  snow. 

"  If  I  were  that  God,"  he  thought,  "  Who,  as 
our  faith  teaches  us,  is  just  and  merciful,  I  would 
to-day  put  an  end  to  the  misery  down  there.  Are 
not  the  mountains  of  the  Trasank,  the  sea  of  clouds, 
the  fire  from  heaven  in  His  hands?  In  a  year 
flowers  would  bloom  upon  the  scene  of  destruction 
and  all  would  be  well ! 

"  If  one  of  our  human  race  should  suddenly  have 
control  of  human  affairs,  would  it  not  be  better  for 
us  than  as  it  now  is,  with  a  Something  over  all 
Who  does  not  understand  and  is  not  understood. 
Who  heartlessly  plays  with  our  hearts.  Who  does 
not  smile  at  our  brief  joys,  nor  weep  when  we  go  to 
destruction  ?  It  is  a  monster,  false,  dangerous, 
fascinating,  for  it  calls  itself  God.  The  good  God! 
The  dear  Heavenly  Father,  Who  encompasses  the 
earth  with  a  wreath  of  stars,  and  fills  it  with  a  sea 
of  sunlight,  that  its  outer  splendours  may  satisfy 
His  eye!     He  troubles  Himself  but  little  concern- 


Godless  317 

ing  those  who  suffer  and  despair  within.  And 
should  He  be  called  to  account  for  this  He  is  the 
stronger,  and  to  shield  His  own  power  He  names 
Himself  the  All-Wise  One. — But  does  He  name 
Himself  ?  Was  it  not  the  craven  human  souls  who 
have  made  of  this  Unknown  Something  a  gracious, 
all-powerful,  all-wise  God  ?  Oh,  how  cowardly  to 
ascribe  to  God  deeds  which  we  perform  ourselves ! 
And  did  not  God  come  to  us  in  human  form  to 
redeem  the  world  ?" 

These  were  the  different  thoughts  that  filled  the 
poor  man's  brain. 

It  was  midsummer  and  Wahnfred  wandered 
through  the  forest.  He  often  stopped  to  listen  to 
the  twittering  of  the  bird  that  had  its  home  in  the 
densest  group  of  pine-trees,  a  home  before  whose 
door  the  spider  had  built  her  lattice-work.  In  a 
song  without  words  —  in  music  —  we  comprehend 
only  that  which  we  ourselves  contribute,  our  own 
feelings  and  experiences.  So  Wahnfred,  the  God- 
seeker,  was  inclined  to  interpret  the  sweet  notes  of 
the  birds  as  a  revelation. 

He  sometimes  lay  for  hours,  stretched  upon  the 
grass,  oppressed  by  the  heat  of  the  day  and  by  the 
weight  of  his  own  thoughts.  Dreamily  he  gazed 
heavenward  to  watch  the  dream  pictures  in  the  sky. 
For  are  not  the  clouds,  in  their  fantastic,  ever- 
changing  forms,  now  light  and  airy,  now  dark  and 
threatening,  vanishing  as  they  form,  forming  as 
they  vanish, — are  they  not  the  dreams  of  the  sky  ? 
They  are  moving  from  west  to  east — the  sky  is 


3i8  The  God  Seeker 

dreaming  of  the  Orient,  of  that  paradise  which  it 
has  watched  over  lovingly  with  its  blue  eye,  kissed 
fervently  with  its  sun's  rays,  and  watered  with  its 
dews.  O  youth  of  the  world !  The  stars  move  in 
their  endless  course  from  east  to  west,  only  the 
clouds  take  the  opposite  direction,  in  longing  re- 
membrance of  thee,  lost  youth  of  the  world ! 

Wahnfred  also  possessed  a  nature  that  lived  in 
the  past  rather  than  in  the  future.  More  frequently 
than  ever  he  thought  of  the  Gestade,  at  the  foot  of 
his  mountain.  There  had  lived  his  mother,  there 
had  lived  his  wife,  there  he  had  spent  his  childhood, 
and  there  he  had  had  a  child  of  his  own.  His 
dearest  happiness  had  come  to  him  there,  had 
visited  him  in  his  little  workshop.  All  was  over 
now,  but  for  the  sake  of  that  sacred  time  he  had 
no  right  to  curse  the  world.  He  had  become  un- 
faithful to  the  truest  friend  he  had :  work.  To 
restore  law  and  order  in  the  outcast  parish  should 
now  be  his  penance  for  his  evil  deed. 

His  heart  filled  with  joy  when  he  began  to  see  the 
beauties  of  nature  as  of  old.  O  human  eye,  how 
beautiful  has  the  world  made  herself  for  thee! 
Everything  which  comes  from  Nature's  breasts  is 
pure  and  clean.  Perhaps  the  fountain  of  humanity 
also  was  once  clear  and  fresh  and  the  stream  has 
only  become  muddy  by  its  long  course,  for  it  has 
taken  up  the  dust  of  the  world  and  lost  its  way  in 
aimless  space,  embittered  by  the  continuous  strug- 
gles of  its  waves,  even  as  sea-water  becomes  bitter 
and  only  returns  to  its  purity  after  mounting  in 
clouds  to  heaven  and   falling  thence  to  the  earth 


Godless  319 

again.  Expiation  in  dissolution  and  a  better  resur- 
rection after  the  fall!  To  this  goal  Wahnfred's 
thoughts  turned  as  a  magnet  turns  to  the  north. 

Far  beyond  the  mountains,  on  the  sunny  plains, 
shimmer  the  yellow  fields.  "  O  happy  land,  where 
bells  and  scythes  are  heard!"  he  cried.  "Yes, 
yonder  is  peace;  there  the  mowers  are  harvesting 
and  the  earth  has  opened  her  arms,  offering  her 
fruits,  her  blood,  her  heart,  in  gratitude  to  man  for 
having  trusted  her  in  the  spring.  The  stalks  of 
grain  stand  with  bowed  heads  awaiting  the  scythe, 
and  the  fields  have  decorated  themselves  with  corn- 
flowers and  red  poppies  in  celebration  of  their  sacri- 
ficial day.  Ah,  when  shall  we  gather  another 
harvest  in  Trawies  ?" 

Wahnfred  looked  up ;  the  dream  pictures  had 
vanished  and  how  changed  was  the  sky !  Above  the 
peaks  of  the  Trasank  huge  piles  of  threatening 
clouds  had  gathered  and  were  descending  over  the 
cliffs  and  upon  the  heights  of  the  Ritscher  and  of 
the  Wildwiese.  A  rumbling  of  thunder  was  heard, 
the  full  force  of  the  peal  failing  to  penetrate 
through  the  thick-falling  fog,  but  reaching  the  ear 
like  a  half-smothered  rattle ;  here  and  there  flashes 
of  lightning  glimmered  faintly  through  the  mist. 

It  had  grown  so  dark  that  the  gleam  of  two  glow- 
worms shone  from  behind  the  leaves  of  a  hawthorn- 
tree.  And  now  the  storm  began  to  rage,  tearing 
down  from  above  and  up  the  mountainsides,  whist- 
ling and  hissing  through  the  trees  and  frightening 
the  birds  from  their  nests.  The  wind  played  havoc 
even  with  the  small  plant-growth   on   the   heath, 


320  The  God  Seeker 

throwing  up  the  sand  and  earth.  A  blinding  sheet 
of  flame  formed  a  huge  cross  in  the  air,  and  where 
its  shafts  struck  the  ground  a  burning  tree  was 
standing.  A  sea  of  mist  was  flying  over  the  crash- 
ing trees.  The  clouds  burst  and  descended  in 
floods.  Dust,  moss,  and  twigs  were  tossed  into  the 
air,  only  to  be  crushed  back  into  the  earth  again  by 
heavy  hailstones;  and  then  all  were  plunged  in 
a  brown,  foaming  stream  to  the  depths  below. 
Wahnfred  saw  nothing  but  the  whirling  grey  mist, 
pierced  by  red  bands  of  flame,  heard  nothing  but 
the  roaring  as  of  a  mighty  sea.  The  rolling  stones, 
the  crashing  trees,  the  peals  of  thunder,  had  become 
one  sound.  Like  the  breath  of  a  god,  blowing 
creation  back  into  chaos  from  which  it  had  sprung, 
so  the  elements  warred,  as  though  one  would  merge 
into  the  other  in  the  struggle. 

Wahnfred  was  thrown  into  a  thicket  ;  sight  and 
hearing  failed  him.  "  Thou  poor  human  creature!" 
he  thought,  "thou  hast  hated  also;  how  childish 
was  thine  envy,  how  insolent  thy  scorn,  how  petty 
thine  anger  compared  with  this  anger  of  the  eternal 
forces  that,  with  one  blow,  avenge  everything,  ex- 
piate everything!  And  thou  darest  impute  mean 
human  motives  to  Him,  Who  in  His  majesty  and 
power  scorns  and  destroys  us  as  He  wills!  The 
dangers  into  which  our  own  sins  plunge  us  are  alone 
fatal.  In  the  war  of  the  elements,  we  may  be  quite 
calm." 

Such  were  the  thoughts  of  the  God-seeking 
Wahnfred.  The  storm  passed.  The  largest  trees 
of  tlie  forest  were  broken,  the  fragments  still  being 


Godless  321 

swept  down  by  the  rushing  stream.  The  cliffs  were 
stripped  bare ;  everything  green  had  been  carried  to 
the  valley  below.  The  outline  of  the  Trasank  was 
sharply  defined  ;  a  light  mist  hovered  over  its  rocky 
sides.  The  valley  of  the  Trach  was  white ;  a  bit  of 
winter  had  been  hurled  down  upon  it.  The  mount- 
ains on  the  other  side  stood  out  clear  and  distinct, 
and  above  the  forest  slender  threads  of  smoke  rose 
here  and  there.  Light  clouds  were  floating  across 
the  sky;  the  sinking  sun  was  smiling  back  a  "Good 
night."  Far  over  the  plain  the  storm  was  receding, 
and  against  the  grey  sky — as  though  made  from  a 
lightning-flash  now  held  in  thrall — was  outlined  the 
half-circle  of  the  rainbow. 

Wahnfred  returned  to  his  hut,  where  he  sat 
through  the  quiet  night,  reflecting  and  dreaming. 
He  had  almost  forgotten  the  past;  he  was  thinking 
of  what  the  future  would  bring.  He  longed  to 
break  the  fetters  that  bound  him  to  his  ancestors 
and  to  their  faith,  for,  guided  by  that,  had  he  not 
destroyed  the  religion  of  the  parish  of  Trawies  ? 
His  mission  now  was  to  find  for  them  a  God. 

It  was  already  late  in  the  night,  and  the  sleepless 
eyes  of  the  man  sitting  in  front  of  his  hut  were  gaz- 
ing vaguely  before  him,  when  suddenly,  below  by 
the  cliff,  he  saw  a  little  light  flickering  among  the 
branches.  It  swung  to  and  fro,  gradually  drawing 
nearer,  and  finally  the  beautiful  face  of  a  young  girl, 
illumined  by  the  ruddy  glow,  appeared  out  of  the 
darkness.  It  was  Sela,  who  approached  him  with 
these  words:  "  The  fire  guardian  delivers  the  fire 

into  thy  hand?." 

^1 


CHAPTER   XIII 

SELA  could  not  be  persuaded  to  remain  upon  the 
Johannesberg  until  morning.  She  returned  to 
the  valley,  alone,  as  she  had  come.  The  tall  pines 
stood  erect,  raising  their  knotty  branches  higher  than 
ever  in  their  pride  at  having  so  successfully  bat- 
tled with  the  storm.  The  moon's  rays  fell  between 
the  dark  branches,  a  feeble  light  indeed  to  guide  the 
wanderer,  who  had  carried  her  lantern  up  the  moun- 
tain and  now  returned  silent  and  trembling. 

She  had  fulfilled  her  mission ;  now  she  had  only 
herself  to  care  for,  now  she  could  look  her  sorrow 
in  the  face  and  weep. 

During  the  storm  of  to-day  her  father  had  died. 
His  eyes  had  quivered  before  a  flash  of  lightning, 
then  closed  for  ever. 

Sela  was  returning  home  to  watch  by  the  body. 
As  she  was  climbing  over  a  hedge  on  the  hillside, 
she  did  not  notice  the  dark  figure  standing  there, 
which  moved  when  she  had  passed  and  followed 
her.  She  hastened  more  rapidly,  as  though  sus- 
pecting that  someone  was  behind  her.  Suddenly 
she  stopped  before  the  roaring  Trach  and  could  go 
no  farther.  The  flood  had  carried  away  the  bridge 
and  the  waves  were  beating  madly  against  the  banks. 

322 


Godless  3^3 

Towards  Trawies  lay  the  open  valley,  and  the 
moon  was  shining  down  through  the  gap  upon  the 
rugged  rocks. 

She  stopped,  not  knowing  what  to  do  next.  The 
dark  figure  then  approached,  calling  her  by  name : 
"Sela!" 

She  did  not  start,  for  she  knew  the  voice  well, 
but  she  could  scarcely  believe  that  her  friend  could 
be  so  near. 

"  Sela,"  he  said,  "do  not  fear;  I  am  Erlefried." 

"  How  can  it  be  possible  that  thou  art  here  ?" 
she  asked. 

"  It  is  no  miracle — I  was  just  walking  here.  Take 
my  hand,  and  I  will  tell  thee ;  but  we  must  go  back 
into  the  woods  a  little,  away  from  the  noise  of  this 
roaring  water." 

He  led  her  a  short  distance  into  the  forest,  say- 
ing: "  The  storm  to-day  was  so  terrible  that  I  was 
worried  lest  thy  hut  might  have  been  injured.  So  I 
came  down  to  the  Diirbach  gorge  and  there  I  saw 
thee  walking  with  a  lantern.  It  was  already  dark  and 
I  followed  thee.  In  Trawies  no  maiden  can  now  rely 
upon  her  guardian  angel.  I  thought  thy  father 
might  have  sent  thee  to  the  herb-doctor,  but  in- 
stead thou  didst  climb  the  Johannesberg  and  I  have 
waited  for  thee." 

"  Erlefried,"  answered  the  girl,  "  thou  art  very 
good  to  me — I  am  always  thankful  to  thee,  but  my 
anxiety  is  now  doubled.  Thou  knowest  that  the 
people  must  not  see  thee." 

"  That  is  why  I  always  walk  at  night,"  he  replied ; 
"  and  whoever  meets  me  takes  me  for  a  ghost.     It 


324  The  God  Seeker 

is  fortunate  for  me  that  ghosts  still  exist.  I  wish 
we  could  be  ghosts  ourselves  for  a  moment,  that  we 
might  fly  across  the  stream;  we  cannot  remain  on 
this  side,  unless  we  spend  the  night  below  at  the 
Gestade  where  my  father's  house  used  to  stand. 
We  dare  not  go  up  to  Trawies,  and  it  is  impossible 
for  us  to  stay  here." 

Then  Sela  suggested  that  they  might  go  to  the 
house  on  the  Johannesberg. 

"  I  hate  people,"  answered  Erlefried. 

•'  But  thy  father  lives  up  there." 

"  I  know  it.     I  am  afraid  of  my  father." 

Sela  was  silent.     She  was  thinking  of  what  this 
son  had  just  said.     He  was  afraid  of  his  father! 

"  I  believe—"  said  Erlefried,  embarrassed,  and 
then  he  stopped. 

"  What  dost  thou  believe  ?  " 

"  I  believe  there  are  people  in  Trawies  who  have 
sold  themselves  to  the  devil." 

''Mem  Gott!   thou  dost  not  think  that  of  thy 

father?" 

"  Not  exactly,  but  I  know  others  who  are  none 

too  good  to  do  it." 

"  Erlefried,"  replied  the  girl,  after  a  pause,  "  how 
could  a  man  sell  himself  to  the  evil  one  ? " 

"  Easily  enough,  if  he  wished  to.  But  he  must 
be  in  earnest." 

"  Well,  who  would  wish  to  ?" 

"  Who  ?  Oh,  there  are  many  people  who  would 
like  to,  in  order  to  have  everything  their  own  way, 
and  for  this  they  need  help.  God— supposing  the 
Trawiesers  had  a  God— does  not  always  grant  our 


Godless  325 

prayers.  So  the  people  look  for  someone  else.  We 
could  make  use  of  the  devil  ourselves  to  carry  us 
over  the  Trach. ' ' 

"  Do  not  say  such  wicked  things,  Erlefried;  we 
can  build  a  bridge." 

Laying  a  bridge  would  have  been  useless,  for  the 
Trach  was  rising  every  moment;  the  water  was 
rushing  down  from  the  farthermost  gorges  of  the 
Trasank,  bringing  with  it  stones  and  earth  and 
many  utensils  from  houses  and  barns.  But  a  little 
farther  along,  where  two  rocks  confined  the  river  in 
a  narrow  space,  the  storm  had  thrown  an  old  larch- 
tree  across  it,  thus  forming  a  bridge.  Through  the 
thick  interwoven  branches  of  this  tree  the  two 
young  people  were  now  obliged  to  work  their  way. 
Sela  clung  to  one  arm  of  the  young  man,  while  with 
the  other  he  swung  himself  from  branch  to  branch, 
at  the  same  time  supporting  his  companion.  How 
long  a  time  had  elapsed  since  that  sweet  Midsummer 
Day  when  Erlefried  had  carried  her,  as  now,  across 
the  Trach !  What  a  bright,  happy  time  it  had 
been! 

But  that  was  the  day  on  which  was  born  the 
demon  that  in  combination  with  the  wild  forces  of 
nature  now  ruled  in  Trawies,  bringing  desolation 
and  destruction  upon  it,  like  the  flood  tearing  down 
the  Trach,  which  the  young  couple  were  now  strug- 
gling to  cross. 

At  last  they  reached  the  other  shore,  and  as  they 
were  ascending  the  mountain,  Sela  told  of  her 
father's  death.  Erlefried  brushed  the  tears  from 
her  eyes  with  his  slender  fingers  saying:   "  I  will 


326  The  God  Seeker 

help  thee  bury  thy  father,  even  as  thou  didst 
stand  by  me  when  I  lost  my  mother.  We  will  give 
him  a  deep  grave  in  the  woods  and  cover  it  with 
stones." 

She  was  silent.  How  could  this  dear  friend  be  so 
heartless?     Bury  her  father! 

They  then  crossed  the  hill.  The  sky  had  become 
cloudless,  the  moon  was  shining  brightly.  A  deep 
stillness  reigned  over  all;  not  a  bird  was  stirring  in 
the  branches;  even  the  young  people  stepped 
softly.  They  walked  close  together,  forming  one 
shadow.  Erlefried  was  conscious  of  his  youth  and 
strength. 

"  I  will  not  leave  thee,  Sela,"  he  cried;  "  I  will 
stay  with  thee  in  thy  house  and  protect  thee,  as  thy 
father  has  protected  thee,  and  love  thee  as  Erlefried 
has  always  loved  thee." 

"  Thou  wilt  stay  with  me  ?"  murmured  the  girl 
anxiously. 

"  I  will  stay  with  thee,"  he  cried.  "  I  will  never 
leave  thee.  I  will  be  with  thee  through  all 
eternity." 

"  Not  yet,"  she  pleaded. 

"  Yes,  Sela,  now.  Thou  shalt  light  the  fire,  I 
will  lock  the  house.  We  belong  no  longer  to  Tra- 
wies;  we  will  not  fly  to  strange  lands,  we  will 
belong  to  each  other !     Sela!     Sela!" 

Hastily  seizing  her  in  his  arms  he  kissed  her 
brow  and  her  eyes,  and  was  about  to  kiss  her  lips, 
but  refrained,  pressing  her  hand  to  his  own  instead. 
He  drew  her  quickly  on  towards  the  house  in  the 
Diirbach  gorge. 


Godless  327 

Sela  did  not  resist.  They  hastened,  they  tore 
down  through  the  moist,  cool  forest,  over  frag- 
ments of  trees  and  hailstones.  They  said  nothing; 
their  flying  feet  were  the  only  expression  of  their 
feelings.  Sela  longed  to  reach  her  dead  father,  yet 
felt  alarm  the  nearer  she  approached  the  hut.  The 
youth,  suddenly  overcome  by  the  passion  of  his 
love,  thought  little  of  the  dead  man.  Winding  his 
arm  about  the  girl  he  almost  carried  her,  and  her 
feet  scarcely  touched  the  ground.  Thus  they  de- 
scended the  hill,  the  roaring  of  the  Diirbach  growing 
nearer  and  nearer. 

At  last  they  were  in  the  gorge  and  as  they 
climbed  over  the  fallen  trees  and  debris,  feeling  their 
way  and  looking  anxiously  about  them,  Sela  sud- 
denly stopped  and  exclaimed :  "  The  hut  is  gone !  " 

"  But  where  can  it  be  ?  It  must  be  farther 
down." 

"  It  should  be  here,  opposite  this  great  rock. 
My  God,  there  is  a  new  mountain !  Erlefried, 
Erlefried,  the  hut  is  buried!  " 

An  avalanche  had  descended,  bringing  with  it 
trees  and  bushes.  Sela  threw  herself  upon  the 
mound,  digging  the  earth  away  with  her  hands, 
until  Erlefried  forced  her  back,  saying:  "  See,  God 
is  still  in  Trawies;  He  has  buried  thy  father!  " 

The  gentle  words,  so  full  of  meaning,  opened  the 
floodgates  of  her  poor,  sore  heart,  and  she  wept 
bitterly.  "God  has  buried  him!"  The  thought 
comforted  her,  for  she  had  trembled  to  think  that 
she  must  lay  her  father  in  the  earth  without  a  bless- 
ing or  the  tolling  of  bells.     And  besides,  she  had 


328  The  God  Seeker 

been  terrified  at  the  idea  of  living  on  in  the  gloomy 
hut,  either  alone  or  with  her  friend.  Now  that  was 
all  over,  and  her  path  in  life  must  turn  here. 

They  seated  themselves  upon  the  moss-covered 
rock  beside  the  Diirbach,  and  there  they  remained 
the  entire  night,  gazing  at  the  huge  pile  of  earth 
which  made  the  fire  guardian's  grave.  Erlefried's 
passionate  mood  was  calmed  and  changed  into  warm 
sympathy  and  reverence. 

He  longed  to  speak  comforting  words  to  her,  but 
she  did  not  hear  him ;  the  roaring  of  the  torrent  was 
benumbing  her  senses.  The  moon  sank  behind 
the  trees,  the  soft  rays  penetrating  through  the 
branches,  touching  the  stones  with  silver,  and  caus- 
ing the  waves  to  sparkle.  A  broad  band  of  light 
shone  upon  the  mound  from  which  the  broken 
trunks  still  projected.  A  mysterious  atmosphere 
lay  over  all,  and  the  moonlit  sky  seemed  to  be  filled 
with  airy  forms  descending  and  ascending  like 
angels  on  Jacob's  ladder. 

"  Sela,"  said  Erlefried,  leaning  his  head  against 
the  little  head  of  the  girl  beside  him,  his  long  locks 
falling  over  her  forehead,  "  Sela,  see!  our  ancestors 
are  coming  down  to  thy  father  who  has  so  faithfully 
guarded  the  fire !  And  they  will  now  lead  him  to 
heaven  by  this  path  of  light." 

When  the  sun  was  rising  above  the  blue  forest  of 
the  Tarn,  Erlefried  led  Sela  into  Bart's  house. 

He  related  what  had  happened,  begging  Bart  to 
give  the  girl  a  home  and  his  protection. 

"  It  is  thy  request,  Erlefried  ?"  asked  Bart;  "  I 


Godless  329 

hardly  know  how  to  understand  that.  Yes,  I  will 
give  the  child  a  roof  so  long  as  I  have  one  myself. 
I  am  glad  to  have  Sela  in  my  house ;  only,  Erie- 
fried,  thou  art  well  aware  that  we  often  do  not 
know  what  we  ourselves  shall  eat." 

"  I  will  gather  my  food  in  the  woods  as  I  have 
been  doing,"  said  the  girl. 

"  But  where  will  she  sleep  ? "  asked  the  old  man. 

"  In  the  barn  on  the  hay,"  proposed  Erlefried, 

Mistress  Bart,  who  for  some  time  had  been  watch- 
ing the  two  young  people  standing  beside  each 
other,  so  innocent,  yet  so  full  of  life,  now  inter- 
rupted: "  The  men  may  sleep  in  the  barn,  Erie- 
fried,  and,  for  all  I  care,  Bart  also;  the  girl  shall 
sleep  in  the  house,  her  bed  next  to  mine."  And  to 
this  Bart  agreed. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

DURING  this  same  period  a  report  was  circul- 
ated that  the  Tarn  forest  was  dying.  It  was 
nearly  four  miles  square,  and  on  bright  summer 
days  it  lay  like  a  still,  blue  sea  under  the  arching 
canopy  of  sky.  No  one  saw  the  endless  movement 
and  life  going  on  within  its  cool,  shady  depths.  The 
thousandfold  births  and  deaths  of  the  little  creatures, 
the  warm  heart-beats,  and  the  hot  struggle  for  exist- 
ence,— the  constant  activity  of  Nature's  loom, — 
who  paid  heed  to  it  or  realised  it  ? 

And  who  troubled  themselves  about  the  lost 
people  dwelling  in  the  Tarn  ?  For  a  long  time  the 
trees  had  concealed  them  with  their  heavy  branches. 
In  Trawies,  the  central  point,  a  kind  of  community 
had  developed,  but  in  the  depths  of  the  forest 
another  life  was  hidden.  Many  of  the  old  people 
were  astonished  at  the  gradual  disappearance  of  the 
vagabond  element  that  had  streamed  in  at  first. 
Did  these  tramps  and  outlaws  feel  themselves  too 
good  for  Trawies,  or  were  they  seeking  a  still  more 
evil  place  ? 

The  forest  of  the  Tarn,  compared  with  the 
Romanesque  style  of  the  deciduous  trees  outside, 
resembled  a  Gothic  cathedral.     The  murmuring  of 

330 


Godless  331 

the  Tarn  was  like  a  melodious  organ,  contrasted 
with  the  rustling  leaves  in  the  valley.  The  Tarn 
was  night :  other  forests  were  twilight.  The  Tarn 
consisted  mostly  of  firs  not  planted  by  the  hand 
of  man,  but  grown  up  in  wild  confusion  from  the 
seeds  of  their  forefathers.  Since  time  immemorial 
the  Tarn  forest  had  been  standing;  storms,  ava- 
lanches, fire,  and  the  axe  had  made  but  little  impres- 
sion upon  it. 

Sections  of  it  had  been  given  over  to  wood-cutters, 
and  the  fire  guardian  was  once  heard  to  say:  "  It  is 
the  same  with  trees  as  with  men,  they  must  go  upon 
the  battle-field  in  their  best  years."  But  the  unseen 
sower  was  ever  at  hand,  gathering  the  seeds  and 
scattering  them  over  the  barren  earth.  Thus  sows 
the  wind.  So  the  Tarn  stood  upon  its  stony  ground 
increasing  in  size  and  luxuriance.  Many  of  the  trees 
were  hundreds  of  years  old  and  hundreds  of  feet  in 
height,  so  large  that  two  men  could  not  encompass 
them. 

But  few  paths  led  through  this  forest,  and  even 
during  times  of  peace  it  was  avoided.  The  ground 
was  mostly  bare,  except  for  its  carpet  of  grey  moss 
and  pine-needles,  and  it  was  seldom  lighted  by  a 
ray  of  sun.  Here  and  there  towered  a  barren  rock, 
or  the  skeleton  of  a  mouldering  tree-trunk.  Near 
the  summit  of  the  gently  ascending  slope,  far  away 
from  the  paths  of  men,  stood  a  wooden  cross. 

Few  came  to  pray  before  it,  and  none  knew  why 
it  was  there.  It  bore  neither  the  image  of  the 
Saviour  nor  any  other  sign ;  towering  in  its  soli- 
tude, amid   the   deep  silence  broken  only  by  the 


332  The  God  Seeker 

murmuring  of  the  wind  in  the  branches,  it  was 
almost  terrifying  to  behold.  Some  imagined  this 
to  be  the  spot  where  the  hunter,  St.  Eustachius, 
while  still  unconverted,  once  had  the  vision  of  a 
deer,  with  a  crucifix  between  the  antlers.  Others 
insisted  that  the  cross  grew  from  the  roots  of  a  tree, 
and  that  it  exactly  resembled,  in  size  and  form,  the 
one  upon  which  our  Lord  was  crucified. 

Still  others  related  that  it  was  from  the  time  of 
Griiner  Wolfgang,  once  the  terror  of  the  hunters  in 
the  Tarn.  He  is  said  to  have  always  worn  twigs, 
leaves,  and  flowers  from  the  green  forest  upon  his 
garments ;  his  hat,  his  coat,  his  stockings  were  also 
green,  his  hair  and  beard  white,  his  reputation 
black.  Whatever  sin  Griiner  Wolfgang  may  have 
committed,  his  appearance  was  not  evil,  and  he 
nursed  and  cared  for  the  forest  as  one  would  care 
for  a  beloved  child.  He  himself  lived,  like  the 
trees,  in  the  open  air  and  even  in  his  old  age  was 
hale  and  hearty. 

But  he  was  proud  and  defiant  withal.  Seldom 
descending  to  Trawies,  he  did  not  go  to  church 
or  to  the  tavern.  Hence  his  bad  reputation.  His 
house  stood  in  the  woods,  his  nourishment  he  pro- 
cured with  the  aid  of  his  gun ;  he  had  a  thousand 
resting-places  in  the  forest.  On  one  bright  summer 
noonday,  he  was  lying  upon  the  soft  moss  under  an 
arching  tent  of  firs.  The  birds  were  silent,  the 
beetles  were  crawling  lazily  under  the  network  of 
roots  upon  the  ground,  a  gay  butterfly  was  flutter- 
ing from  branch  to  branch ;  the  forester  slept. 

For  a  while  he  slumbered  quietly,  the  busy  ants 


Godlesg  333 

running  over  his  limbs.  Gradually  an  uneasiness 
took  possession  of  him,  he  sighed  and  groaned,  and 
when  at  last  he  awoke,  it  was  already  evening. 
Rising  quickly  he  looked  anxiously  at  the  slender 
trees  and  up  into  their  branches,  then  hastened 
to  his  house.  And  soon  afterwards,  upon  the  spot 
where  he  had  slept,  he  erected  the  cross. 

The  old  forester  lived  some  time  longer,  but 
finally  died  without  the  people  having  discovered 
why  the  heretic  had  set  up  the  cross  in  this  wilder- 
ness. 

Griiner  Wolfgang  was  the  last  forest-keeper  in  the 
Tarn.  After  his  death  it  grew  wilder  and  wilder, 
for  now  it  had  no  master.  Many  a  proud  tree 
looked  scornfully  down  upon  the  cross,  thinking: 
*'  Thou  hypocritical  wooden  thing,  why  art  thou 
here  ?." 

We  have  already  learned  of  the  avalanches  and 
storms  which  prevailed  in  this  region.  During  the 
previous  spring  it  had  been  the  same.  Changeable 
weather,  first  melting,  then  freezing,  had  left  the 
falling  snow  clinging  to  the  branches.  Icicles  and 
masses  of  snow  had  formed,  dragging  down  the 
boughs  with  their  weight,  bending  the  young 
trunks  and  breaking  off  the  tops.  And  later,  when 
the  snow  had  melted  and  the  violets  were  in  bloom, 
the  finches  and  buntings  wondered  why  the  trees, 
usually  so  proud,  bowed  their  heads  and  hung 
down  their  arms  dejectedly  when  it  was  the 
season  for  sprouting  and  budding;  wondered  why 
so  many  beautiful  little  firs  lay  upon  their  decay- 
ing  bark  in   the  bright  green  sorrel,  and  that  so 


334  The  God  Seeker 

many  of  the  tallest  and  oldest  trees  had  lost  their 
tops.  The  ruin  was  great,  and  thus  the  Tarn  began 
to  die. 

There  was  no  one  left  in  Trawies  to  whom  it 
occurred  to  separate  the  dead  trees  from  the  living, 
excepting  Bart,  who  shook  his  head,  for  he  knew  it 
would  require  many  hundred  wood-cutters  to  re- 
move the  fallen  trunks. 

One  day,  in  the  following  spring,  Baumhackel, 
the  former  forest-keeper  of  Trawies,  discovering  an 
old  root-digger  working  about  the  trees  in  the  Tarn, 
reproached  him  for  injuring  the  roots  with  his  iron 
puncheon. 

'' O  lieber  Gott  !  "  answered  the  old  man,  "  my 
iron  does  little  harm,  but  I  will  show  you  some- 
thing here  that  does  more!  " 

He  led  him  to  a  log  lying  in  the  moss,  and  tore 
off  a  large  piece  of  bark.  "  Do  you  see  the  letters 
which  are  carved  in  the  wood  ?  "  said  the  man. 
"  Can  you  read  them  ?  That  is  the  death  sentence 
of  the  Tarn  !  " 

"Nonsense!"  muttered  Baumhackel;  but  in- 
wardly he  was  terrified  at  what  he  saw.  Countless 
little  paths  led  from  one  chief  entrance  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  log.  They  were  the  passage- 
ways bored  by  an  insect,  where,  here  and  there 
a  beetle  no  larger  than  a  grain  of  wheat  could  be 
seen  crawling  among  the  thick,  brown  larvae. 

Soon  after  this  discovery  Baumhackel  joined 
another  forest  tramp  and  together  they  discussed 
the  different  crimes  being  perpetrated  in  this  region. 

"  Whom  are  you  tracking  now  ? "  said  one. 


Godless  335 

"  The  fox,  and  I  know  where  he  keeps  the  dove 
hidden,"  replied  the  other. 

"  Do  you  mean  Roderich,  the  tramp  ?" 

"  Whom  else  should  I  mean  ? " 

"  And  the  girl  from  the  Johannesberg  ? " 

"  Don't  be  stupid !     Of  course  I  mean  her." 

"  Where  is  she  ? " 

"  Do  you  think  I  -m  fool  enough  to  tell  you  ? 
You  '11  have  to  look  long  before  you  find  her.  I  '11 
only  say  that  the  rascal  is  still  guarding  her  as 
strictly  as  a  pious  abbess  would  guard  her  youngest 
nun.  The  golden  hair  is  growing  fast  and  in  a  few 
weeks  it  will  be  cut  again." 

"Hist!" 

The  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a  man  with 
a  load  on  his  back,  walking  through  the  thicket. 
He  soon  disappeared,  and  the  two  loiterers  also. 

The  Tarn  was  still  spreading  its  green  branches 
over  all.  Its  stock  was  apparently  richer  than  ever 
and  many  of  the  boughs  broke  from  the  weight  of 
the  cones.  Numerous  woodpeckers  pecked  busily 
at  the  decaying  wood ;  they  found  an  overabund- 
ance of  nourishment. 

But  there  came  a  time  when  the  trees  no  longer 
sprouted.  Bart  shook  his  head  again.  By  mid- 
summer the  usually  green  trees  had  become  a 
soft  brown  and  the  needles  were  falling  to  the 
ground. 

Bart,  whose  house  stood  near  the  forest  and  whose 
fields  were  hidden  therein,  examined  a  number  of 
the  trees.  In  the  outer  and  inner  bark,  in  the  wood, 
and  in  the   pith,  he   found   the    fatal   marks,  th^ 


33^  The  God  Seeker 

countless  passageways  of  the  bark-beetle,  the  mene 
tekel  of  the  Tarn. 

"  The  forest  is  gone,"  said  Bart  to  Erlefried. 
"  The  curse  spares  nothing.     I  am  terrified !  " 

Erlefried  was  silent.  He  also  dwelt  within  the 
ring  of  fire,  but  he  felt  no  traces  of  the  curse  in 
himself.  He  was  full  of  joy  and  life.  He  was  per- 
mitted to  see  his  beloved  Sela  every  day,  but  Bart 
and  his  wife  were  secretly  watching  over  these  two 
young  hearts. 

At  another  time  the  dying  of  the  vast,  glorious 
forest  would  have  caused  great  excitement  in  Tra- 
wies,  but  now  few  paid  heed  to  it  and  many  con- 
sidered it  only  natural  that  everything  should 
perish. 

At  the  end  of  the  summer  nearly  all  the  trees 
stood  stripped  of  their  needles,  stretching  their  bare, 
crippled  branches  towards  heaven.  A  strong  resin- 
ous odour  was  perceptible  and  the  sun  shone  once 
more  upon  the  ground  of  the  Tarn.  The  homeless 
woodpeckers  and  crossbills,  the  blackbirds,  jays, 
and  sparrows,  fluttered  aimlessly  about  among  the 
dry  branches,  where  swarms  of  bark-beetles  were 
seeking  fresh  wood  for  nests  in  which  to  raise  their 
broods.  Even  those  parts  of  the  forest  hitherto  pre- 
served by  ravines  and  clearings  were  now  attacked, 
and  they,  too,  wilted  and  died. 

Bart  grew  nearly  insane  at  all  this  destruction. 
He  realised  for  the  first  time  how  he  had  loved  the 
forest.  In  his  rage  he  would  hunt  for  single  beetles 
and  stamp  upon  them  with  his  feet.  But  when  he 
saw  that  the  forest  was  lost  he  longed  to  throw  a 


Godless  337 

fife-brand  into  the  dry,  decaying  wood.  He  then 
proposed  that  charcoal-pits  should  be  started ;  the 
people  laughed  him  in  the  face. 

"  For  what  do  we  need  coal  when  we  have  no 
forge  ?"  They  were  right.  The  road  to  the  out- 
side world  was  barred. 

Now  the  streams  began  to  run  dry,  and  the  stones 
grinned  up  at  one  jeeringly  from  the  gorges  and 
ravines. 

When  the  covering  of  the  forest  was  thus  re- 
moved, the  rabble  who  had  taken  refuge  there  came 
forth,  fleeing  like  a  brood  of  beetles  when  the 
stone  under  which  they  have  lived  is  raised. 
Where  only  the  smoke  rising  above  the  forest  was 
formerly  visible,  the  hearth-fire  itself  now  lay  ex- 
posed to  view,  with  the  miserable  beings  crawling 
and  creeping  about  it  among  the  dead  trees.  Here 
were  disclosed  the  wretched  huts  and  caves  filled 
with  all  kinds  of  plunder.  Here  were  people  living 
in  luxurious  abundance;  there,  hollow-eyed  forms 
perishing  with  hunger  and  envy. 

The  narrator  of  these  events  has  fortunately  been 
deprived  of  a  brush  with  which  to  paint  the  crime 
in  all  its  horror.  But  he  must  at  least  call  our  at- 
tention to  the  misery  here  revealed.  Fighting  and 
murder  were  not  the  only  results  of  the  lawlessness, 
from  which  arose,  first,  right  of  might;  then,  re- 
venge unto  death.  And  their  stolid,  beclouded 
natures  were  soon  at  home  in  the  paths  of  sin. 

Of  neighbourliness,  brotherly  love,  or  even  family 
ties,  there  was  scarcely  a  trace  left  in  Trawies.  The 
people  formed  in  bands  as  it  happened.     The  older 


33^  The  God  Seeker 

ones  dragged  along  as  best  they  might  in  their  ac- 
customed ways. 

Quite  apart  from  the  rest,  in  a  large  cave  among 
the  rocks,  high  up  on  the  precipice  of  the  Torstein, 
facing  the  east,  Roderich,  the  tramp,  had  set  up  his 
fortress.  He  was  the  quietest  and  greediest  of  all, 
and  had  gathered  about  him  the  best  and  finest  that 
Trawies  had  to  offer.  He  did  not  want  for  fruit, 
bread,  lard,  and  brandy  ;  great  piles  of  sheep's  wool, 
yarn,  fustian,  and  leather  filled  the  strange  apart- 
ments of  his  dwelling.  He  often  sat  in  the  stone 
niche  at  the  entrance  to  his  cave,  gazing  blissfully 
out  over  the  blue  hills  towards  the  east,  and  folding 
his  hard,  rough  hands  across  his  knees  he  would 
murmur  in  a  mood  of  thankful  ecstasy:  "  I  have 
never  been  so  prosperous  as  now !  " 

Then  he  would  retire  into  his  dark  abode,  creep- 
ing past  his  stores,  until  he  reached  the  inner  cave, 
where  the  dim  light  of  a  tallow  candle  shone  towards 
him.  And  it  was  here  that  he  kept  his  talisman 
concealed. 

The  rocky  wall  was  covered  with  moss  and  skins; 
upon  the  floor  were  spread  woollen  mats ;  there  were 
many  household  utensils,  even  a  dainty  little  table, 
holding  images  of  the  saints  and  the  tallow  candle. 
In  one  corner  stood  a  carefully  arranged  couch  of 
snow-white  wool  upon  which  lay  a  maiden  of  excep- 
tional beauty.  She  was  scarcely  more  than  a  child, 
and  was  in  reality  paler  than  she  seemed  by  the  dim 
light  of  the  candle.  Her  large  eyes  were  brown  as 
two  ripe  cherries,  and  glowed  with  a  mysteiious 
light,  which    Roderich  interpreted  as  a  sign   of  a 


Godless  339 

passionate  love.  He  reminded  her  many  times  a 
day  of  the  asceticism  of  the  saints,  whose  images 
he  had  stolen  from  the  old  houses  in  Trawies.  And 
he  also  told  her  that  the  curse  which  had  now  fallen 
upon  the  parish  could  only  be  counteracted  by  an 
abstemious  hermit's  life,  therefore  he,  old  Roderich, 
would  be  a  good,  watchful  father  over  her. 

She  lay  now  quite  motionless,  her  face  buried  in 
her  arms;  had  not  the  pulse  moved  slightly  in  the 
white  wrist,  Roderich  would  have  thought  her 
dead. 

But  he  knew  very  well  that  she  was  alive.  He 
approached  her  cautiously,  turning  away  his  face  as 
if  in  fear  of  a  slap  from  her  hand  or  a  scratch  from 
her  fingers.  He  examined  her  golden  hair,  which 
fell  in  short,  unevenly  cut  locks  over  her  white  neck. 

"  Good,"  he  murmured.  "  Good,  Bertha,  my 
heart,  there  will  be  more  soon.  To-morrow  we  will 
cut  it  again." 

The  girl  now  started  up,  endeavouring  to  push 
old  Roderich  away  with  both  her  hands. 

He  stood  firmly  and  did  not  move. 

"Leave  me  in  peace,  you  fearful  ghost!"  she 
cried. 

"You  are  the  one  who  are  making  the  disturb- 
ance," said  the  old  tramp,  with  a  grin. 

"  What  do  you  want  of  my  hair  ? " 

"  Why  do  you  keep  asking,  when  you  do  not  be- 
lieve my  answer  ?  But  I  will  tell  you  once  more, 
— that  from  your  lovely  maiden's  locks  I  am  twisting 
a  rope  with  which  to  bind  the  devil  that  is  now 
loose  in  Trawies." 


340  The  God  Seeker 

"You  are  a  devil  yourself,"  cried  the  girl,  with 
blazing  eyes.     "  You  murdered  my  mother!" 

**  What  a  hard  creature  you  are  to  manage,  little 
girl!"  said  the  old  man,  smiling  unconcernedly. 
"  Why  should  I  have  done  the  good  woman  any 
harm?" 

"You  strangled  her  with  a  red  handkerchief; 
then  you  put  it  into  my  mouth  and  dragged  me  to 
this  cave.     You  are  the  devil,  the  devil,  the  devil !  " 

He  forced  her  back  upon  the  couch  with  his 
strong  arm,  hissing:  "  Since  you  know  it  already, 
why  should  I  deny  it  ?  Your  mother  hung  herself 
on  account  of  the  curse  in  Trawies.  You  died  of 
fright,  and  who  should  have  you  now,  if  not  the 
devil?" 

"  O  my  crucified  Saviour,"  cried  the  girl,  tremb- 
ling and  wringing  her  hands,  "  what  have  I  done 
that  Thou  shouldst  leave  me  thus!  " 

"  You  know  what  a  sin  it  is  to  be  proud,"  replied 
the  old  man,  in  his  rough  voice.  "You  have  been 
very  vain  of  your  soft  hair,  so  it  must  do  penance. 
To-morrow  we  will  cut  it  again.  Lie  down  and  rest 
now ;  I  will  watch  and  see  that  no  worse  devil  than 
myself  comes  near  you." 

He  left  her,  crawling  out  of  the  cave  on  his  knees, 
and  climbed  down  to  the  water — and  he  had  not  yet 
told  the  girl  why  he  was  keeping  her,  as  a  dragon 
guards  its  treasure,  or  for  what  he  wished  to  use  her 
hair. 

When  Bertha  knew  herself  to  be  alone,  she  sprang 
up  and  sinking  before  the  table  tried  to  pray.  But 
her  prayer  soon  changed  to  violent  weeping,  which 


Godless  341 

re-echoed  throughout  the  cave.  She  called  for  her 
mother ;  she  called  until  her  strength  was  exhausted, 
then  sank  back  upon  the  couch. 

When  she  awoke  she  gazed  at  her  hands  and  felt 
of  her  face.  The  flesh  had  fallen  away,  but  it  was 
no  wonder,  for  was  she  not  already  very  old  ?  Had 
she  not  been  a  hundred  years  in  this  terrible  dwell- 
ing-place ?  She  could  not  know  that  since  she  had 
been  deprived  of  the  light  of  day  the  trees  had 
budded  and  withered  but  once. 

Only  in  moments  of  happy  dreams  did  she  see 
the  bright  world  and  weep  over  its  loss.  Gradually 
she  had  become  more  stupefied ;  she  could  not  be- 
lieve that  she  was  damned,  but  she  did  believe  that 
the  darkness  of  madness  was  coming  over  her,  and 
the  thought  was  a  comfort, — and  then,  her  life  must 
end  some  time.  So  she  became  resigned,  and  in 
her  most  difficult  hours  she  took  refuge  in  prayer. 
At  first  she  refused  the  food  set  before  her,  but 
after  a  while  her  hands  involuntarily  reached  out 
for  it. 

The  old  man  often  came  to  her,  busying  himself 
to  make  her  comfortable  and  trying  to  entertain 
her.  From  time  to  time  he  cut  off  her  hair  with  a 
sharp  knife  and  then  departed,  often  remaining 
away  for  days. 

One  evening  after  barring  the  entrance  to  the 
cave  carefully  as  usual,  he  hurried  away  through 
the  woods.  Formerly  the  trees  protected  him  ;  now 
he  must  go  out  by  night.  He  walked  rapidly  in  the 
direction  of  Bart's  house.  He  had  not  yet  visited 
this  lonely  place,  but  he  had  an  idea  that  it  must 


342  The  God  Seeker 

contain  much  that  was  desirable.  Roderich  carried 
with  him  that  "  Tried  Remedy  to  Keep  People  from 
Waking," — the  candle  made  of  adder's  fat  and 
maiden's  hair.  Many  had  experimented  with  it, 
but  Roderich  had  at  last  found  a  reliable  source  for 
his  wicks.  And  since  then  his  magic  candle  had 
never  failed  him.  To  be  sure,  certain  precautions 
were  necessary.  One  should  first  pass  the  selected 
house  by  daylight,  apparently  admiring  the  flowers 
in  the  window,  the  birds'  nests  clinging  to  the  walls 
and  under  the  eaves,  but  all  the  time  be  secretly 
looking  for  the  most  favourable  plarce  for  breaking 
in  at  night.  Then  an  hour  should  be  chosen  when 
the  people  were  fast  asleep;  one's  feet  should  be 
shod  in  something  noiseless,  and  one  should  have 
the  proper  utensils  and  keys.  It  would  be  still  bet- 
ter to  visit  the  houses  when  the  inhabitants  were  off 
in  search  of  plunder  themselves.  Nowadays  there 
is  never  anything  to  be  found  in  chests  and  drawers 
— one  must  search  the  cellars  and  attics,  also  under 
heaps  of  stones,  under  the  eaves,  or  even  in  the 
thick  foliage  of  trees.  A  man  who  has  grown  old 
in  the  profession  knows  all  the  tricks,  and  when,  in 
addition,  he  has  faith  in  his  magic  candle,  his  suc- 
cess is  assured. 

On  the  way  the  old  rascal  thought  often  of  the 
girl  whom  he  was  keeping  prisoner.  He  knew  how 
to  appreciate  her.  He  was  sometimes  sorry  that  he 
was  obliged  to  bury  her  so  deep  among  the  rocks, 
to  frighten  and  discipline  her  so  severely,  but  then 
the  little  thing  was  very  stubborn.  "When  I  go 
out   of   business,"   he  thought,    "  perhaps  I  shall 


Godless  343 

marry  her!  "  Ah,  yes,  old  man,  no  one  has  ever 
guarded  virtue  more  carefully  than  thou  hast 
guarded  it  in  this  poor  creature !  It  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  find  anyone  who  knows  so  well  how  to  make 
use  of  maiden's  hair  as  thyself. 

At  midnight,  with  the  aid  of  a  rope-ladder,  which 
he  had  secured  to  a  pole  by  the  window  in  the  roof, 
Roderich  crept  into  the  attic  room  of  Bart's  house. 
He  at  once  made  himself  at  home  and  lighted  his 
candle.  It  burned  to-night  rather  unevenly  and 
with  a  crackling,  hissing  sound.  Everyone  seemed 
to  be  asleep  in  the  house,  yet  there  were  slight  noises 
as  if  rats  or  mice  were  running  about.  Roderich 
grew  a  little  uneasy,  but  at  last  all  was  quiet,  and  the 
old  chests  and  wardrobes  looked  very  alluring  to  the 
tramp.  A.n  inner  warmth,  like  the  glow  of  youth, 
took  possession  of  him,  and  with  gleaming  eyes  he 
began  his  work. 

We  will  not  be  accomplices  to  the  deed,  but  will 
enter  another  building  on  Bart's  premises. 


CHAPTER   XV 

IN  the  barn,  on  the  fragrant  hay,  two  men  were 
lying.     One,  judging  by  the  sound,  was  asleep; 
the  other  rose  quietly  and  crept  to  the  window. 

It  was  Erlefried,  gazing  out  into  the  night  over 
at  the  dwelling-house  opposite. 

In  the  forest  there  is  a  saying  that  lovers  —  no 
matter  how  far  apart  they  may  be  —  have  one  mo- 
ment daily  when  they  may  see  one  another.  This 
moment,  whether  it  occurs  by  day  or  by  night,  lasts 
just  so  long  as  it  takes  a  dew-drop  to  fall  from  the 
top  of  a  larch-tree  to  the  ground.  What  if  one 
should  miss  it ! 

This  moment  always  came  to  Erlefried  in  the 
night,  when  old  Bart  lay  asleep  at  his  side.  And 
the  handsome,  wide-awake  youth  took  advantage 
of  it;  he  would  rise  and  look  over  at  the  house 
where  Sela  was  resting — and  thinking  of  him.  For 
hours  he  would  see  her  sweet  image  thus— a  dew- 
drop  requires  much  time  to  reach  the  ground,  falling 
from  the  high  branches  of  a  larch-tree  and  stopping 
at  every  twig. 

As  Erlefried  looked  out  of  the  little  window  of 
the  barn  on  this  night,  he  noticed  a  light  in  the 
attic,  where  Sela  kept  her  wardrobe.     Could  she  be 

344 


Godless  345 

up  still  ?  Perhaps  she  was  mending  her  gown,  and 
might  she  not  be  feeling  lonely  ?  The  water  was 
trickling  into  the  trough  as  usual ;  no  other  sound 
was  perceptible ;  the  stars  in  the  sky  shone  brightly, 
the  same  as  ever.  The  lad,  too,  felt  lonely,  and  he 
longed  to  go  to  her  in  her  attic  room,  to  sit  by  her 
and  hold  the  candle  while  she  worked. 

Then  when,  in  preparation  for  the  night  she 
raised  her  arms  to  unbraid  her  hair  —  for  she  liked 
to  sleep  with  it  loose  —  she  could  not  as  usual  cover 
her  lips  with  her  hands. 

Erlefried  slipped  out  quietly,  found  the  door  of 
the  house,  opened  it,  and  climbed  softly  up  the 
dark  staircase.  He  knocked  first  at  the  attic  door, 
whispering  Sela's  name,  that  he  might  not  frighten 
her.  At  the  same  moment  he  heard  a  noise  within, 
and  as  he  entered,  the  room  was  dark  and  empty ; 
the  window  was  open  and  a  figure  was  hastening 
away  from  the  house.  The  thief  had  escaped,  and 
the  chests  were  still  untouched.  Erlefried  stood 
there,  hardly  knowing  what  to  think.  For  once  he 
had  mistaken  the  moment  of  the  falling  dew-drop. 
But  what  did  it  all  mean?  For  a  long  time  he  sat 
upon  the  chest,  then,  as  it  was  growing  late,  he 
stretched  himself  upon  it  and  fell  asleep. 

The  next  day  was  the  Feast  of  the  Elevation  of 
the  Cross.  But  who  thought  of  such  things  or 
wished  to  think  of  them  in  these  woods  ?  There 
were  many  who  felt  a  longing  for  religious  festivals ; 
but  even  those  who  retained  their  faith  were  almost 
without  hope.  In  Bart's  house,  however,  it  was 
otherwise;  there  no  one  believed  in  the   curse  or 


34^  The  God  Seeker 

that  it  would  affect  the  innocent,  and  they  all  had 
hope  in  God  and  in  His  kingdom.  Bart  wished  his 
household  to  observe  the  church  festivals,  although 
he  took  no  part  in  them  himself;  he  knew  that  he 
must  bear  his  share  of  the  curse. 

To  celebrate  this  Feast  they  usually  made  a  pil- 
grimage through  the  Tarn  to  the  cross  which  stood 
in  the  solitude  of  the  forest  and  whose  origin  was 
so  mysterious.  Thither  they  went  with  reverent 
hearts,  and  knelt  before  it  in  adoration,  praying 
for  their  absent  friends  and  for  the  souls  of  the 
dead  that  might,  even  now,  be  writhing  in  the  fire. 
They  then  sat  about  on  the  moss,  ate  their  mid- 
day bread,  and  quietly  returned  to  their  isolated 
dwelling. 

And  this  pilgrimage  they  were  to  make  to-day. 
Early  in  the  morning  Sela  mounted  to  the  attic 
chamber  to  dress  for  the  long  walk.  She  gave  a  cry 
of  alarm  as  she  discovered  a  man  lying  asleep  upon 
her  chest.  Erlefried  sprang  to  his  feet,  not  realis- 
ing where  he  was. 

**  I  should  like  to  know  what  thou  art  doing 
here!"  said  Sela  seriously. 

'  *  That  must  be  very  evident  to  thee,  * '  he  replied ; 
"  I  was  sleeping." 

"  But  thy  bed  is  on  the  hay." 

"  That  's  too  hard." 

"  And  thou  hast  found  the  wooden  chest  softer  ? " 

"  It  is  thy  chest,"  he  said  defiantly. 

"  What  is  that  to  thee  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  *s  everything  to  me,  Sela,  nowadays  each 
chest  should  have  a  living  lock." 


Godless  347 

"  Thou  must  leave  me  now.  I  want  to  dress;  I 
am  going  to  the  cross  in  the  forest." 

"  May  I  go  with  thee  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Thou  wouldst  better  stay  at  home.  I  am  quite 
famih'ar  with  thy  piety  on  pilgrimages." 

'*  If  even  thy  wardrobe  is  not  safe  up  here  in  the 
night,  it  would  be  well  for  me  to  go  with  thee 
through  the  woods.  That  has  nothing  to  do  with 
piety." 

"  Don't  be  foolish,  Erlefried,"  said  the  girl,  lay- 
ing her  hand  on  his  shoulder  and  looking  earnestly 
into  his  face.  "  Thou  carest  for  me, — I  know  it; 
and  I  should  not  like  to  go  through  the  Tarn  with- 
out thee." 

And  then  they  were  both  happy,  very  happy. 
Erlefried  dressed  himself  quickly  in  his  Sunday  at- 
tire, putting  on  his  brightest  neckerchief;  to-day 
he  felt  like  showing  some  outward  sign  of  the  joy 
which  filled  his  heart — for  he  was  going  with  his 
beloved  maiden. 

Their  way  led  them  at  first  among  fresh  green 
beech-trees,  whose  branches  were  full  of  life  and 
song.  The  other  members  of  Bart's  household  had 
separated  themselves  from  them,  for  they  knew  of 
nothing  more  stupid  than  to  walk  with  these  two 
young  people.  "  Birds  of  a  feather  flock  together," 
they  thought,  "  and  what  is  that  to  us?  "  So  they 
let  them  go  their  way. 

As  they  were  walking  quite  alone  on  this  cool 
autumn  morning,  Sela  said:  "  Erlefried,  I  will  not 
go  with  thee  unless  thou  art  good  and  wilt  tell  me 
stories  on  the  way." 


348  The  God  Seeker 

"  Stories  of  the  beautiful  world  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Or  they  may  be  of  heaven,"  she  answered. 

"  Dost  thou  know  the  story  of  the  two  sowers  ? 
In  heaven  two  sowers  are  always  busy,  one  sowing 
blessings  in  the  earth,  the  other  curses," 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  the  first  one  is  not  very  in- 
dustrious," said  the  girl. 

"  Ah,  but  he  would  be,  only  he  never  has  seed 
enough,  for  his  harvests  are  poor.  On  the  other 
hand,  curses  grow  by  thousands,  so  they  can  be 
sown  in  great  numbers." 

"  That  is  sad,"  said  Sela. 

"  We  will  make  it  better,"  continued  the  young 
man;  "  the  good  which  falls  from  heaven  should  be 
taken  care  of  and  be  allowed  to  grow.  We  will  do 
that,  shall  we  not,  Sela  ?  " 

She  made  no  reply. 

For  a  while  they  walked  beside  each  other  in 
silence.  From  time  to  time  Erlefried  glanced  at 
his  companion,  noticing  how  beautiful  she  had 
grown.  A  soft  bloom  rested  on  her  cheek.  "And 
in  this  garden  of  roses  grew  two  violets."  Her 
blond  hair  fell  in  long  braids  over  her  shoulders, 
and  it  was  not  strange  that  the  young  man  should 
admire  and  love  this  girl  beyond  anything  in  the 
world.  They  were  both  young  and  they  were  con- 
scious when  their  eyes  met. 

They  soon  came  to  the  end  of  the  dense,  leafy 
woods  and  entered  the  barren  forest  of  the  Tarn. 
Here  Sela  was  obliged  to  wind  her  braids  about  her 
head  to  prevent  their  catching  on  the  projecting 
branches.     The  ground  was  strewn  with  dry  twigs 


Godless  349 

which  crackled  under  their  feet ;  the  sun  rose  higher 
and  higher  and  the  shadows  cast  by  the  trees  re- 
sembled a  thin,  torn  veil. 

Erlefried,  seeing  a  pale  yellow  saffron  flower 
growing  on  a  bit  of  meadow,  asked  Sela  if  she  knew 
why  this  plant  was  poisonous  ?  She  did  not 
know. 

'*  Well,"  he  explained,  "  because  they  have 
missed  their  chance,  and  old  maids  always  poison 
themselves." 

"Of  course  thou  knowest  about  all  such  things," 
she  answered  curtly. 

At  last  they  reached  a  little  group  of  white-pines 
that  had  escaped  the  forest  plague  and  stood  there 
in  luxuriant  green.  They  rested  a  while  in  the 
shade.  Erlefried,  gazing  thoughtfully  into  the 
branches,  and  realising  what  a  dangerous  turn  his 
thoughts  were  taking,  asked  Sela  if  she  knew  why 
every  twig  in  the  pine-tree  formed  a  cross. 

"Tell  me,  Erlefried." 

"  In  olden  times,"  he  said,  "  the  twigs  of  the 
pine-tree  turned  towards  the  sky  like  the  palm. 
Since  that  day  when  a  cross  was  made  for  Christ  out 
of  a  pine,  everything  on  this  tree  must  grow  cross- 
wise, just  as  to-day  in  Trawies,  where  no  cross  is 
allowed  to  stand,  everything  has  become  criss- 
cross." 

"  Criss-cross  and  wretched,"  added  Sela. 

"  I  am  also  a  cross,"  said  the  handsome  young 
fellow,  straightening  himself  to  his  full  height  and 
stretching  out  his  arms.  "  Wilt  thou  be  crucified  ?  " 

"  I  prefer  larches  to  pines,"  remarked  the  girl. 


35o  The  God  Seeker 

looking  towards  a  spot  where  one  of  these  trees  of 
the  northern  forest  stood  in  its  bright,  soft  green. 

"  Shall  I  tell  thee  the  story  of  the  larch-tree  ?" 
he  asked.  "  See,  then,  it  is  just  the  same  with 
trees  as  with  people.  Once  upon  a  time  the  trees 
were  standing  together  one  Sunday  to  choose  a 
king.  The  spruce-tree  cried :  '  I  am  the  most  beau- 
tiful ' ;  and  the  fir-tree :  '  I  am  the  tallest ' ;  the  pine- 
tree  declared :  '  I  am  the  most  industrious  and  the 
most  useful ' ;  and  to  prove  this  it  had  brought  a 
Scotch-fir  all  the  way  down  from  the  Trasank  to 
cast  a  vote  in  its  favour.  Finally  the  larch-tree  ar- 
rived, the  beautiful,  strong,  delicate  larch-tree,  and 
the  others  thought  to  themselves:  '  Beside  this  tree 
we  have  no  chance,  for  it  is  the  noblest  of  all.' 
They  then  postponed  the  election  of  their  king  un- 
til winter.  I  believe,  Sela,  I  '11  postpone  the  rest 
of  this  story  until  winter." 

"  Go  on,  go  on,"  she  said ;  "  we  know  of  nothing 
else  sensible  to  talk  about." 

"  Thou  art  right,  Sela,  when  I  am  with  thee  the 
brightest  ideas  occur  to  me,  but  I  cannot  express 
them.  Well,  in  the  winter,  as  the  evergreen-trees 
assembled  once  more,  the  larch-tree  refused  to 
come.  Three  times  it  was  called,  and  when  it 
finally  arrived  it  wore  a  mantle  of  snow,  which  the 
others  insisted  upon  its  removing  at  once.  This  it 
did  most  unwillingly,  for  underneath  it  was  bare 
and  naked,  with  no  green  needles  like  the  rest. 
They  laughed  it  to  scorn,  and  the  spruce-tree  was 
chosen  king.  Since  that  time  the  larch-tree  keeps 
by  itself,  but  in  the  spring  when  the  soft  green, 


Godless  351 

feathery  foliage  reappears,  it  is  even  prouder  than 
the  king.  It  is  also  a  fact  that  in  the  larch-tree 
husband  and  wife  are  one." 

"  Now  thou  mayest  stop  telling  thy  tree  stories," 
said  Sela. 

"  And  there  's  a  bird  called  a  lark  that  sings  wed- 
ding-marches." 

"  I  should  like  to  know,  Erlefried,  where  thou 
hast  learned  all  these  stories,"  said  the  girl  in  some 
confusion. 

"  Whoever  goes  about  much  in  the  woods  sees 
them,"  he  replied.  "  Not  so  very  long  ago,  I  no- 
ticed up  on  the  Freiwildhohe  how  a  fine,  young 
pine-tree,  under  which  the  image  of  the  Virgin  used 
to  stand,  had  chosen  a  beautiful  wife  for  himself." 

"  Thou  canst  not  think  much  about  people,  be- 
cause thou  payest  so  much  attention  to  the  trees," 
remarked  Sela.      \ 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  be  for  ever  thinking  of  people; 
that  is  not  good  for  one." 

''  Indeed!    That  is  something  quite  new  to  me." 

"  Besides,  it  's  of  no  use.  I  don't  care  for  ani- 
mals; the  dry  wood  I  hate,  so  I  turn  to  the  green 
things.  But,  however  much  I  love  the  trees,  I  am 
always  with  thee,  Sela;  they  send  me  back  to  thee." 

"  That  is  very  kind  of  them ! "  she  answered. 

"  Thou  couldst  never  guess  what  the  pine-tree  on 
the  Freiwildhohe  did  lately.  It  occurred  to  him  to 
take  a  wife.  In  the  neighbourhood  were  nothing 
but  little,  crippled  creatures.  So  he  thought  that 
rather  than  give  his  children  such  a  mother,  he 
would  remain  alonQ.     And  then  he  reflected  that 


352  The  God  Seeker 

he  was  no  worse  off  than  our  human  father  Adam, 
who  took  his  wife  from  his  own  ribs.  So  he  waved 
one  of  his  red  catkins  to  a  beautiful  tree  in  the  dis- 
tance, sending  a  little  seed  from  his  own  heart  to  do 
his  wooing.  And  she  was  wise,  Sela,  and  did  not 
refuse  her  lover.  And  then  I  thought  of  thee 
agam ! 

He  fell  on  his  knees  before  her,  but  the  girl  pro- 
posed that  they  should  proceed  on  their  way,  at  the 
same  time  springing  to  her  feet.  The  young  man 
followed  her  quickly  but  silently. 

They  now  penetrated  still  deeper  into  the  dead 
Tarn.  Soon  not  a  single  green  tree  was  visible. 
The  sun  was  blazing.  This  summer  there  had  been 
no  rain,  and  strong  winds  had  swept  the  last  remain- 
ing needles  from  the  branches.  The  dry  trunks  and 
the  ground  beneath  were  palpitating  with  the  heat. 
Lizards  darted  hither  and  thither  among  the  stones, 
but  there  was  scarcely  any  other  living  creature  to 
be  seen  in  this  curious  wilderness.  Even  the  swarms 
of  bark-beetles  had  disappeared.  While  still  at 
some  distance,  our  two  pilgrims  noticed  the  cross 
towering  amid  the  bare  trees.  There  was  no  one 
there;  they  seemed  to  be  the  only  visitors. 

To  Erlefried,  the  imaginative  son  of  an  imagina- 
tive father,  the  cross  in  this  forest  had  always  been 
an  object  full  of  mystery,  of  which  he  often 
dreamed.  So  now,  reverence  for  it  conquered  for 
the  moment  all  other  feelings  in  his  heart.  Remov- 
ing his  green  hat,  he  silently  approached  the  cross 
and  knelt  before  it.  He  thought  of  that  time 
when,  as  a  boy,  he  had  returned  to  his  mother  with- 


Godless  353 

out  God  and  without  hope.  **  He  exists.  Thou 
knowest  it,  thou  lovest  Him ;  heaven  and  earth  are 
His  body!  "     Thus  had  she  comforted  him. 

Sela  also  experienced  moments  when  the  whole 
frightful  misery  of  Trawies  filled  her  heart  with 
pain.  At  such  times  she  could  not  smile,  she  could 
not  hope  or  pray,  and  she  knew  no  other  way  of 
escape  than  to  close  the  eyes  of  her  soul  and  to 
banish  everything  from  her  mind. 

And  to-day  she  had  come  to  the  cross  without 
really  knowing  why.  The  ruined  forest  was  not 
calculated  to  brighten  her  mood.  But  now,  as  she 
saw  this  beloved  friend  kneeling  before  the  cross, 
praying  reverently,  she  was  deeply  impressed.  It 
refreshed  her  like  cooling  dew,  and  she,  too,  knelt 
and  prayed,  prayed  as  she  had  not  done  for  a  long 
time.  And  her  heart  softened  and  grew  so  light  that 
she  sobbed  for  very  joy. 

Could  the  people  of  the  outside  world,  who  had 
cast  the  fire-brand  into  this  quiet  valley,  only  have 
seen  these  two  innocent  beings  kneeling  here  in  the 
bare  forest  before  this  isolated  cross!  But  no  one 
saw  them,  nor  even  imagined  them.  The  sole 
thought  given  to  Trawies  was  that  there  rebellion, 
crime,  and  hell  reigned  supreme.  Sela  and  Erie- 
fried,  the  children  of  the  rebels,  they  were  forgotten 
and  deserted. 

At  last  Erlefried  rose  from  his  prayer,  seated 
himself  in  the  shade  of  a  large  trunk,  opened  a  pack- 
age of  provisions,  and  prepared  a  luncheon  for  Sela. 
They  sat  beside  each  other,  eating  their  bread  in 
silence,  while  the  sun  was  moving  westward.    They 

»3 


354  The  God  Seeker 

then  rested  a  while,  and  Erlefried  turned  his  face 
up  towards  the  sky,  but  his  view  was  cut  off  by  the 
dry,  interwoven  branches,  which  resembled  an  end- 
less spider's  web.     As  he  lay  thus,  he  suddenly  said : 

"  Sela,  I  love  thee  more  than  ever!  " 

"  How  shall  we  get  home  to-day  ? "  said  the  girl. 

"  Oh,  the  walk  will  be  pleasant,"  replied  the 
young  man ;  "  the  sun  will  not  be  so  hot  and  the  air 
will  be  cool." 

"  I  am  afraid  we  shall  lose  our  way!"  Sela  did 
not  say  this,  but  thought  it.  She  was  anxious, 
though  why,  she  did  not  know.  How  did  it  hap- 
pen that  no  one  besides  themselves  had  visited  the 
cross  to-day  ?  Had  she  suspected  this,  she  would 
not  have  come  with  Erlefried.  She  would  have 
liked  to  start  for  home  at  once,  by  frightening  him 
with  ghost  stories  and  tales  of  robberies,  but  then 
she  would  be  frightened  herself  and  he  would  laugh 
at  her.  However,  she  made  the  attempt,  timidly 
reminding  him  of  the  tramps  wandering  about  in 
the  Tarn. 

"Yes,"  said  Erlefried,  "and  for  that  reason,  I 
think  we  should  avoid  the  beaten  paths  and  go 
through  the  densest  part  of  the  forest,  to  escape  be- 
ing noticed." 

"  Even  there  we  cannot  escape  the  wicked  Traut 
and  Anweiiy  * 

"  The  best  precaution  against  such  ghosts  is  for 
us  to  keep  together." 

He  put  his  arm  about  her  waist:  "  I  am  strong, 
Sela,  thou  canst  trust  me." 

'  The  two  hobgoblins  of  the  Styrian  mountains. 


Godless  355 

She  looked  at  him.  It  was  a  long,  deep,  peculiar 
look — imploring,  reproachful,  hopeful,  anxious,  all 
in  one.  She  threw  herself  once  more  before  the 
cross:  "  Protect  us!     Protect  us  on  this  day!  " 

Then  they  started,  hastening  through  the  Tarn 
towards  the  western  hill,  behind  which  towered  in 
the  distance,  like  a  blue  triangle,  the  summit  of  the 
Johannesberg.  A  heavy  peat-smoke  floated  over 
the  region,  making  the  air  sultry  and  close.  Masses 
of  clouds  had  formed,  which  soon  changed  into  in- 
numerable tiny  particles,  as  if  an  invisible  hand  had 
shattered  them.  In  another  part  of  the  sky  were 
long  bands  of  cloud,  forerunners  of  wind,  while  over 
the  forest  a  deep  silence  reigned. 

At  last  our  two  wanderers  reached  a  bit  of  green 
meadow,  bordered  by  huge  trunks  of  the  primeval 
forest,  now  bare  and  naked.  Here  in  this  isolated 
spot  Erlefried  proposed  that  they  should  stop  and 
rest.  Sela  looked  at  him  once  more,  stepped  a  little 
to  one  side — and  disappeared.  The  young  man 
hastened  hither  and  thither,  from  tree  to  stone,  from 
bush  to  bush,  searching  everywhere  in  vain.  Sud- 
denly he  was  startled  and  terrified  by  a  harsh  laugh. 
It  came  from  between  two  rocks  close  beside  him. 
A  thin  hand  reached  out,  then  the  bristling  head  of 
Roderich,  the  tramp,  appeared. 

"  Young  man,"  he  muttered,  as  Erlefried  stopped 
and  looked  at  him  with  darkening  brow,  "  your 
sweetheart  left  you  at  just  the  wrong  moment." 

'*  What  's  that  to  you,  you  old  thief  ?  "  said  Erie- 
fried  defiantly. 

"  Such   a   fine  young  man   and    such   a   misfor- 


35^  The  God  Seeker 

tune!  "  said  the  tramp.  Then,  raising  himself  to  a 
sitting  posture,  until  he  resembled  Lazarus  emerg- 
ing from  his  grave,  he  continued:  "  Never  mind, 
pretty  boy.  I  '11  tell  you  something.  I  've  been 
watching  you  for  some  time  and  I  've  thought  to 
myself:  As  he  's  now  managing  things,  he  '11  never 
get  anywhere.  You  look  here  and  there,  you  ask, 
you  humble  yourself,  and  get  nothing  in  return.  If 
you  want  anything  very  much,  you  must  do  as  the 
rest:  sell  yourself  to  the  devil !  " 

"That  is  an  idea;  I  '11  sell  myself  to  the  devil 
then!  "  snarled  the  excited,  trembling  lad.  Passion 
and  anger  confused  his  brain — besides,  he  belonged 
to  a  superstitious  age. 

"  If  you  'II  come  with  me,  you  '11  get  what  you 
want  this  very  evening,"  said  the  old  man  slyly, 
"  but  you  must  help  me  first.  I  've  had  a  bad  day 
to-day.  A  band  of  robbers  fell  upon  me  and  crushed 
my  foot ;  I  've  been  lying  here  for  hours,  and  can  go 
no  farther.  If  you  '11  take  me  up  the  gorge  to  the 
precipice  yonder,  I  '11  then  bid  you  good-night." 

The  tramp  had  not  spoken  the  truth.  The 
crushed  foot  was  a  fact,  also  the  impossibility  of 
proceeding  farther  without  aid ;  but  no  robbers  had 
attacked  him ;  he  had  met  his  misfortune  when 
plundering  himself.  As  he  sprang  from  the  window 
of  Bart's  house,  he  had  injured  his  foot  and  had 
dragged  himself  with  difficulty  to  this  spot.  Erie- 
fried  did  not  dream  that  the  man  cowering  before 
him  was  the  thief  he  had  frightened  away  from 
Sela's  chest  the  night  before.  He  only  knew  that 
his  present  duty  was  to  act  the  Good  Samaritan, 


Godless  357 

and  he  supported  the  old  fellow  through  the  gorge, 
all  the  time  looking  for  Sela  right  and  left. 

"  You  're  looking  in  vain,"  said  Roderich,  bear- 
ing down  heavily  upon  the  strong,  young  shoulders. 
"  How  well  I  know  that  stamp  of  woman!  They 
won't  be  caught  in  the  woods,  but  run  to  the 
churches,  awaiting  their  lovers  at  the  altar.  They 
want  the  marriage  sacrament  and  then  they  are  con- 
tent. Since  we  now  have  no  church,  we  must  ar- 
range something  else.  As  the  father  killed  the 
priest,  the  son  will  surely  get  on  very  well  without 
one.  Do  you  suppose  I  don't  know  you,  young 
man  ?  Don't  look  so  black  at  me ;  you  are  son 
of  the  great  Wahnfred,  who  brought  this  people  to 
their  destruction,  yet  who  would  now  forbid  our 
plundering!  But  I  '11  not  betray  you.  Just  hide 
in  the  Tarn,  as  I  am  doing,  and  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  robberies  outside.  *T  would  be  a  pity  if 
it  should  be  discovered  that  the  dead  Erlefried  had 
come  to  life  again.  You  should  keep  out  of  sight. 
Take  the  girl  you  want  and  avoid  those  who  want 
you.  You  see,  you  are  driven  to  it  by  necessity. 
Sell  yourself  to  the  devil!  " 

"The  devil  take  me  if  I  don't  do  it!"  cried 
Erlefried,  passionately  excited,  and  all  the  more 
because  the  old  tramp  had  recognised  him. 

"  You  please  me,"  murmured  Roderich,  limping 
beside  the  young  man.  That  which  he  was  wick- 
edly planning  made  him  almost  forget  the  pain  in 
his  foot.  "  It  would  be  better,  though,  that  the  devil 
should  take  you  to-morrow  than  to-day — for  it  's 
already  dark.     Come  with  me." 


35^  The  God  Seeker 

"  I  '11  call  him  on  the  spot!  "  said  Erlefried  stop- 
ping. The  proverb  proved  true  in  his  case:  "  Fire 
in  the  heart  makes  a  smoky  brain." 

Call  him  when  you  are  alone,"  replied  the  old 
man,  who  felt  no  desire  to  meet  the  devil  in  person 
to-day. 

"  Take  my  advice.  You  know  the  Devil's  Stone; 
it  's  up  on  the  hill,  not  far  from  Ulrich's,  the  char- 
coal-burner's hut.  You  '11  find  many  well-known 
names  written  there.  Everybody  is  a  fool  nowa- 
days who  does  not  make  a  compact  with  the  Prince 
of  Darkness.  When  you  come  to  the  place,  open  the 
vein  in  your  left  arm,  dip  a  withered  straw  into  the 
blood,  and  write  your  name  upon  the  stone.  In 
the  same  moment  the  devil  will  stand  before  you, 
but  will  not  frighten  you ;  he  's  not  so  terrible  as 
people  who  have  never  seen  him  imagine.  Perhaps 
he  '11  appear  as  a  beautiful  boy,  or  as  a  young  girl, 
or  in  the  form  of  a  deer  or  a  green  tree.  The  dark 
gentleman  has  all  kinds  of  disguises.  You  must  step 
right  up  to  him  and  boldly  ask  for  what  you  want. 
And  be  sure  and  not  forget  the  most  important 
things.  The  time  when  he  shall  take  you,  you  your- 
self decide;  not  that  you  '11  be  fool  enough  to  limit 
it  to  eighty  years,  or  a  hundred.  That  's  too  short. 
But  listen,  my  handsome  youth!  fix  the  time  on 
the  Corpus  Christi  Day  when  there  is  a  new  moon." 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  said  Erlefried. 

"  You  know,  don't  you,"  said  Roderich,  "  that 
on  that  day  the  devil  can  take  us  all  ? " 

"  That  will  probably  be  true  in  Trawies  in  a  very 
short  time,"  remarked  Erlefried. 


Godless  359 

"  Young  man,"  said  the  tramp,  clinging  to  Erie- 
fried  like  a  snake,  **  he  who  sells  himself  to  the 
devil  never  looks  again  at  the  calendar.  The  new 
moon  and  Corpus  Christi  do  not  fall  upon  the  same 
day  once  in  a  hundred  years,  and  if  they  did,  since 
Trawies  is  excommunicated,  no  more  Corpus  Christi 
festivals  can  be  celebrated  here,  therefore  they  could 
never  fall  upon  the  same  day  with  a  new  moon.  Do 
it  as  you  like,  and  thank  you  for  helping  me." 

They  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  grey  precipice 
at  the  top  of  which  the  tramp  had  his  nest.  The 
old  man  had  understood  how  to  entice  the  boy  with 
him  by  his  conversation,  as  long  as  he  needed  his 
aid.  Here  he  must  take  leave  of  him  and  climb 
alone  to  his  cave,  did  he  not  wish  to  disclose  its 
whereabouts. 

Erlefried  went  away  in  the  darkness,  confused  in 
mind  and  looking  for  Sela,  yet  going  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Devil's  Stone.  He  was  dazed ;  the  de- 
lusions of  superstition  had  entirely  unmanned  him ; 
the  fire-ring  of  passion  was  closing  about  his  tremb- 
ling heart.  Following  the  tramp's  advice  he  walked 
rapidly  to  the  Devil's  Stone.  As  he  bared  his  arm 
he  saw  the  scar  made  by  the  shot  which,  as  a  boy, 
he  had  received  upon  the  Wildwiese,  and  on  this 
scar  he  pricked  himself  with  his  knife. 

The"  little  drop  of  blood  was  still  clinging  to  the 
straw,  and  the  last  words  of  his  oath  were  fresh 
upon  his  lips,  when  from  the  neighbouring  Torstein 
he  heard  a  cry.  It  seemed  like  a  woman's  voice. 
Was  his  new  comrade  to  show  himself  already?  Or 
could  it  be  Sela? — At  the  moment  when  he  felt  the 


360  The  God  Seeker 

blood  flow  from  his  arm  a  cold  shudder  had  passed 
over  him.  And  now?  It  was  no  longer  so  much  the 
woman,  it  was  the  dear,  protecting  friend  for  whom 
he  longed.  The  cry  on  the  rock  was  repeated. 
Erlefried  climbed  to  the  place  whence  it  came. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

AS  Roderich,  the  tramp,  sat  upon  a  pile  of  un- 
derbrush, collecting  his  forces  for  the  climb, 
two  men  armed  with  cudgels  passed  by.  One  of 
them  struck  a  light,  and  discovered  the  crouching 
figure  of  the  man  before  he  had  time  to  hide  behind 
the  bushes. 

"  Oh,  here  's  the  fox!  "  they  cried,  one  of  them 
seating  himself  on  the  right  of  Roderich,  the  other 
on  the  left. 

"  We  are  very  glad  to  find  you,  for  we  have  a 
question  to  ask  you." 

"  Well  ?  "  said  the  tramp,  grinning. 

"  Roderich,  where  have  you  hidden  the  beautiful 
girl?" 

"  What  beautiful  girl  ? " 

"  The  one  you  found  on  the  Johannesberg. " 

"  She  's  my  daughter." 

"  That  has  nothing  to  do  with  it;  all  we  want 
is  to  know  where  you  have  hidden  her." 

"  That  I  will  not  tell.     Leave  me  alone!  " 

"  You  leave  the  girl  alone,  you  rascal!  To-day 
you  've  got  to  tell  where  she  is,  or  we  '11  beat  you 
to  death." 

"  You   would   n't,   as  honest  men,  want  me  to 

361 


362  The  God  Seeker 

give  her  up  for  nothing?"  reph'ed  the  tramp  de- 
jectedly. 

"  Very  good.  We  '11  give  you  twelve  Schinder- 
linge,  if  you  are  honourable." 

"  I  am  honourable,  but  the  twelve  Schinderlinge 
are  worthless  in  Trawies.     You  know  that." 

"  But  our  Schinderlinge y  my  dear  villain,  are  good 
money!  " 

They  held  towards  him  a  handful  of  heavy  gold 
coins.  He  looked  at  them  and  his  fingers  twitched 
convulsively. 

"  Give  them  here!  "  he  said. 

"  Not  until  we  know  where  you  have  hidden  your 
shorn  lamb!" 

"  Why  should  n't  I  tell  ?  "  answered  Roderich. 
"  For  several  days  she  has  been  in  the  Rabenkirche, 
by  the  Trasank.  Give  it  here!"  and  he  stretched 
out  his  hand  for  the  money. 

"  And  you  think  we  trust  you  ?  Ha,  ha!  Rod- 
erich is  n't  such  a  child  as  that !  You  shall  go  with 
us,  and  when  we  have  got  the  girl  you  may  have 
the  money." 

"  Very  well,  if  you  want  to  carry  me.  I  've  hurt 
my  foot  and  cannot  walk  a  step." 

He  showed  them  his  badly  swollen  limb,  and,  in 
doing  so,  succeeded  in  snatching  the  coins.  They 
had  no  desire  to  carry  him  the  long  distance  to  the 
Rabenkirche;  the  old  man  already  had  the  money 
in  his  fist ;  so  one  of  them  said  :  "  We  know  his  nest 
and  we  want  the  money  ourselves.  He  's  a  crip- 
pled old  villain.     Let  's  kill  him !  " 

"  That  would  be  the  most  sensible  thing  to  do," 


Godless  363 

added  the  other,  throwing  his  h'ghted  torch  upon 
the  ground. 

Then  followed  a  desperate  struggle,  and  a  cry  of 
terror  resounded  throughout  the  gorge. 

In  the  meantime,  the  underbrush  had  caught  fire 
from  the  torch,  and  the  flames  were  spreading  in 
the  dry  Tarn, 


CHAPTER   XVII 

WAHNFRED  sat  upon  a  stone  on  the  Johan- 
nesberg  gazing  over  the  smoky  valleys  and 
ravines  of  Trawies.  The  blue  clouds  sometimes 
ascended  part  way  up  the  mountain,  bringing  with 
them  the  pungent  odour  of  burning  wood.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  Trach  below  the  Ritscher,  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  see,  lay  the  lake  of  fire.  During  the 
day  the  dense  smoke  partially  concealed  the  flames, 
but  at  night  the  Tarn  glowed  like  the  fiery  pit  of 
hell.  When  the  east  wind  blew,  the  crashing  of 
branches  and  the  groaning  of  falling  trees  could  be 
heard,  even  on  the  Johannesberg.  The  wild  crea- 
tures of  the  forest  came  flying  hither  to  take  refuge 
in  the  green  woods  on  this  side  of  the  Trach.  It 
was  already  late  in  September,  but  in  Trawies  both 
day  and  night  were  warm  and  the  dew  had  ceased 
to  fall.  The  wind  from  the  direction  of  the  Tarn 
brought  with  it  gusts  of  hot  air,  and  high  up  on  the 
Transank,  where  it  came  in  contact  with  the  colder 
atmosphere,  clouds  formed,  sending  forth  now  and 
then  flashes  of  lightning. 

Wahnfred  sat  on  the  stone  looking  down  over  the 
valley.  What  the  people  were  doing  he  could  not 
see,  but  he  supposed  that  they  were  busy  fighting 

364 


Godless  3^5 

the  fire  and  he  hoped  that  this  work  might  produce 
a  good  effect  upon  them.  One  night,  as  a  strong 
wind  fanned  the  flames  to  new  fury,  the  hermit  on 
the  mountain  was  almost  certain  that  they  must 
reach  the  Ritscher  and  the  forests  of  the  Diirbach, 
the  Miesing,  and  the  Trach,  thus  burning  the  very 
heart  of  Trawies.  Then  he  longed  to  descend,  amid 
all  this  splendour,  and  proclaim  his  new  gospel  to 
the  outcast  people.  He  felt  that  the  hardened 
hearts  in  Trawies  were  like  iron,  which  must  be 
melted  before  they  could  be  made  plastic. 

The  fire  extended  far  up  the  cliffs  of  the  Birstling, 
but  was  soon  extinguished  in  the  underbrush  and 
was  then  once  more  confined  to  the  Tarn.  And 
Wahnfred  remained  upon  his  mountain. 

The  forest,  which  on  that  evening  when  the  two 
men  had  murdered  old  Roderich,  the  tramp,  had 
been  accidentally  set  on  fire,  burned  for  many  days. 
No  one  had  made  the  least  effort  to  save  it,  and 
the  flames  flew  mockingly  from  tree  to  tree,  as  the 
swarm  of  bark-beetles  had  so  recently  done.  The 
fire  did  not  seem  to  come  from  without,  but  to 
burst  forth  through  the  cracks  in  the  bark,  from  the 
hollows  and  cavities  which  the  insects  and  wood- 
peckers had  bored.  Then  the  flames  danced  about 
the  trunks,  forming  little  tongues  which  licked  the 
topmost  branches,  and  forked  out  on  the  dry  resin- 
ous boughs,  eddying  like  a  wild  whirlpool.  The 
smoke  was  light  which  rose  from  this  furious  fire; 
only,  when  the  trunks  broke  and  fell  in  the  moss, 
dense  clouds  would  form,  glowing  for  a  long  time 
with  the  sparks  from  the  burning  mass. 


366  The  God  Seeker 

The  flight  of  the  rabble,  who  still  had  their  nests 
and  caves  in  this  forest,  was  a  strange  one.  Some 
howled  and  cursed,  others  made  wild  jests,  con- 
gratulating themselves  that  hell  had  come  to  Tra- 
wies,  for  now  the  Trawiesers  would  be  saved  the 
trouble  of  going  to  hell.  But  at  last  even  their 
jeering  mouths  were  closed.  A  whirlwind  came 
down  in  the  night  from  the  mountains  of  the  Rit- 
scher.  At  first,  like  an  invisible  broom,  it  swept  the 
flames  along  the  ground.  Suddenly  they  soared 
aloft,  a  raging,  hissing  stream  of  fire,  a  monstrous 
jet  of  flame,  lighting  the  deepest  gorges  of  the 
forest. 

And  high  in  the  air  was  a  commotion  such  as  had 
never  been  seen  before  among  these  mountains  by 
the  Trach.  Masses  of  brush,  borne  on  wings  of 
flame,  flew  in  circles,  scintillating  and  sparkling, 
disappearing  in  smoke,  springing  forth  again,  shoot- 
ing upwards  like  rockets,  flying  hither  and  thither, 
trembling  and  broken,  and  miles  away  falling  to  the 
ground  in  a  rain  of  fire. 

The  soil  of  Trawies  had  been  more  faithful  than 
the  people.  The  few  industrious  ones,  who  had 
cultivated  the  gardens  and  meadows  in  isolated 
spots,  were  rewarded  by  rich,  often  luxuriant  har- 
vests, "  as  though" — says  the  chronicle — "  the  soil 
were  filled  with  pity  for  the  tears  that  watered  it." 
And  also  where  the  ground  was  left  untouched, 
wild  fruits  grew  and  ripened,  offering  food  to  those 
unwilling  to  work.  The  herds  of  cows,  goats,  and 
sheep  wandered  half  wild  about  the  meadows  and 


Godless  367 

forests,  and  there  was  many  a  struggle  over  their 
possession  between  the  owners  and  the  plunderers; 
but  the  domestic  animals  could  not  be  quit^  exter- 
minated, for,  after  all,  they  were  a  source  of  nour- 
ishment; even  the  rabbits  and  deer  still  flourished, 
in  spite  of  the  continual  hunting.  The  chamois  of 
the  Trasank,  the  beasts  of  prey  on  the  Ritscher,  and 
the  fish  in  the  Trach  seemed  to  be  constantly  in- 
creasing. The  customary  food  and  clothing  had 
long  since  been  abandoned,  and  the  half-savage 
Trawiesers  contented  themselves  with  rough  gar- 
ments and  the  coarsest  food,  and  one  might  say  of 
the  latter  that  it  almost  grew  in  their  mouths.  And 
added  to  this  was  the  booty  which  they  brought 
in  from  their  various  expeditions  to  the  outside 
country.  Thus  they  lived.  But  each  one  struggled 
for  his  existence  among  enemies. 

Old  Bart  had  all  that  he  could  do,  during  the 
forest  fire,  to  defend  himself  and  his  household. 
He  felt  the  greatest  anxiety  about  Sela  —  she  was 
the  most  precious  treasure  in  his  house,  perhaps  in 
all  Trawies.  The  hay-mow,  where  he  had  slept  with 
Erlefried,  was  no  longer  a  safe  hiding-place,  for 
here  tramps  often  passed  the  night,  after  having 
searched  and  plundered  the  house  and  pantry. 
Below  the  hay-mow,  between  two  thick  walls,  was  a 
small,  dark  storeroom,  where,  in  better  days,  the 
oats  had  been  kept  for  the  horses.  For  years  the 
only  occupants  of  this  little  room  had  been  the  grey 
spiders,  whose  webs  hung  from  the  ceiling,  catching 
the  dust  and  dry  seeds  that  had  worked  their  way 
in    through   the   cracks   of   the   wall.      Her^    Bart 


3^8  The  God  Seeker 

concealed  the  fire  guardian's  daughter,  often  for  days 
at  a  time,  passing  her  food  in  through  a  little  open- 
ing. He  himself  slept  close  by  in  the  sheep-stall, — 
which  had  been  entirely  emptied  by  robbers, —  that 
he  might  guard  her  the  more  securely.  Near  his 
bed,  against  the  wall,  stood  a  sharp  axe,  ready  for 
anyone  who  should  try  to  molest  his  treasure.  His 
old  sickly  wife  felt  perfectly  safe  in  the  house ;  she 
needed  no  axe  to  protect  her,  and  there  was  scarcely 
anything  of  value  left  to  steal. 

Sela  suffered  indescribable  torments  in  her  isola- 
tion. They  did  not  come  from  the  dark  chamber, 
where  gnats  and  spiders  were  her  only  companions; 
it  was  not  the  fear  of  being  discovered  that  was 
breaking  her  heart,  but  the  pain  over  her  irreparable 
loss. 

Since  that  evening  when  she  had  deserted  her 
playmate  and  friend  she  had  never  seen  him  again. 
After  losing  her  way  many  times,  she  had  at  last 
arrived  safely  at  home  that  night.  He  had  not  fol- 
lowed her,  nor  had  he  been  seen  by  anyone.  She 
had  left  him  to  face  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness 
alone.  And  why  ?  Because  he  loved  her,  because 
he  wished  to  kiss  her  lips  and  press  her  to  his  heart. 

Sela  could  not  think  of  it  without  risking  the  loss 
of  her  mind,  but  at  last  she  could  think  of  nothing 
else,  and  her  senses  were  benumbed. 

"  Why  was  it,"  she  asked  herself,  "  that  I  could 
not  embrace  the  man  I  love  so  much  ?  Oh,  would 
that  I  might  now  press  him  to  my  heart  and  kiss 
him  until  my  lips  bleed !  Who  in  heaven  or  on 
earth  has  ever  bidden  me  to  repel  him  when  he 


Godless  369 

looks  at  me  with  his  dear  eyes,  or  when  I  feel  the 
warmth  of  his  breath,  for  which  I  long  with  all  my 
soul  ?  Who  has  commanded  me  ?  My  mother  ? 
She  used  to  sing  to  me  the  song  of  the  false  lover 
in  the  green  woods.  No  one  could  be  more  faithful 
than  Erlefried.  It  is  something  else  in  me  which 
has  made  me  repel  him.     I  cannot  understand  it." 

And  she  wept  and  dreamed  and  continued  her 
raving.  "  Could  it  have  been  the  sunshine,  illu- 
minating the  clouds  ?  Could  it  have  been  the  old 
trees  surrounding  us,  or  was  it  the  evil  one  who 
came  when  I  called  on  our  guardian  angels  ?  Now 
he  is  gone,  and  she  in  whom  he  trusted  deserted 
him.     That  pains  like  death!" 

Old  Bart  had  been  out  to  search  for  Erlefried; 
but  the  trees  of  the  Tarn  were  already  burning. 
According  to  Sela's  statement,  the  fire  had  broken 
out  at  about  the  time  she  had  left  him. 

"  Why  didst  thou  run  away,  thou  thoughtless 
child  ?  ' '  Bart  asked  her. 

"  Why  ?  "  she  replied,  "  because  I  was  afraid  of 
him.  A  viper  had  stung  me,  or  I  had  eaten  a 
poisonous  berry,  I  do  not  know  which ;  but  I  be- 
came confused  and  did  not  know  him." 

Bart  asked  no  further  questions,  but  again  went 
out,  wandering  through  the  smoke  among  the 
charred  and  blackened  trunks,  seeking  for  Erlefried 
as  if  he  had  been  his  own  child.  At  last  there  re- 
mained no  doubt  but  what  he  had  met  with  some 
misfortune.  Bart  did  not  believe  his  own  words 
when  he  said :  "  The  boy  is  bright  enough  to  have 
escaped  in  time  to  the  top  of  the  Trasank." 


370  The  God  Seeker 

"  Why  should  he  ascend  the  Trasank,"  thought 
Sela,  "  when  he  wants  to  be  with  people  ?  " 

Her  sole  wish  was  that  he  might  be  living,  yet 
she  prayed  that  he  might  be  dead.  She  feared  that, 
if  alive,  all  was  not  well  with  him. 

"  Father  Bart,"  she  asked  one  day,  "  when  will 
the  ninety  years  be  up  ?  " 

"  What  ninety  years  ?  " 

"  When  the  ravens  meet  in  the  Rabenkirche  to 
report  upon  those  found  murdered  during  the  past 
years,  and  to  reveal  the  murderer.  If  it  comes  on 
Christmas  night,  I  will  go  and  listen." 

"  Do  not  be  superstitious,  my  child,"  answered 
Bart.  "  We  are  in  God's  hands.  Do  not  forget 
that." 

"  We,  in  God's  hands  ?"  asked  Sela. 

"  Do  not  believe  it  when  they  say  that  our  God 
has  been  taken  from  us.  No  one  is  powerful 
enough  to  do  that ;  that  we  can  only  do  ourselves. 
The  Eternal  God  is  not  to  be  given  and  taken.  We 
only  need  to  desire  Him  to  possess  Him." 

This  was  not  an  answer  to  her  question,  but  she 
grew  calm.  Thoughtfully  she  gazed  up  at  the 
gauzy  veil  which  the  spiders  had  wrought  in  her 
little  room,  that  at  night  was  illuminated  by  the  fire 
in  the  Tarn.  And  once,  as  she  was  watching  a  little 
creature  spinning  its  thread  down  from  the  ceiling, 
she  thought:  "If  it  spins  to  the  floor,  I  shall  see 
him  again,  that  I  will  faithfully  believe,  and  it  will 
come  true."  The  spider  stopped  for  a  long  time  at 
one  point, — then  spun  to  the  floor. 

After  the  Tarn  had  burned  nine  days  and  nights 


Godless  371 

it  was  consumed.  Here  and  there  from  out  the 
white  ashes  rose  a  charred  trunk.  Manv  rocks  were 
now  laid  bare,  disclosing  the  yawning  entrances  to 
dark  caves.  High  above  all  still  towered  the  cross, 
now  visible  far  and  wide.  The  bark-beetles  had 
spared  it,  the  flames  had  flown  over  it,  and  it  now 
reigned  supreme  in  the  forest  of  the  Tarn. 


BOOK  III 
THE  EXPIATION 


373 


CHAPTER  I 

ON  a  late  autumn  day,  during  this  same  period, 
a  strange  darkness  settled  over  Trawies,  caus- 
ing great  uneasiness  in  the  minds  of  the  people. 
The  sky  was  perfectly  clear,  when  suddenly  at 
noon  the  trees  by  the  Trach  ceased  to  cast  shadows; 
a  deep  gloom  rested  over  mountain  and  valley,  and 
bats  were  flying  hither  and  thither.  The  light  of 
the  sun  was  nearly  extinguished  and  only  the  out- 
line of  the  orb  remained  visible.  Stars  were  shining 
overhead,  but  their  appearance  was  weird  and  un- 
natural. 

One  of  the  oldest  inhabitants,  in  his  fright  and 
consternation,  waved  the  old  banner  of  Trawies, 
declaring  that  the  evil  dragon,  which  was  always 
following  the  sun,  was  now  engaged  in  conflict  with 
it.  He  even  said  that  he  could  see  the  sun  strug- 
gling in  the  clutches  of  the  huge  black  monster, 
about  whose  neck  it  was  endeavouring  to  cast  its 
ring.  Should  the  dragon  come  off  victorious  the 
end  of  the  world  would  be  at  hand ;  should  the  sun 
be  conqueror,  the  world,  with  its  interchange  of  day 
and  night,  winter  and  summer,  might  continue  to 
move  on  in  its  course. 

"  The  sun  may  shine  in  other  places,"  said  one 

375 


37^  The  God  Seeker 

man,  "  but  for  Trawies  its  light  is  for  ever  extin- 
guished. ' ' 

"  Nonsense!  "  exclaimed  another;  "  God  allows 
the  sun  to  shine  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust." 

"  But  not  upon  the  just  and  the  damned !  " 

"  Then  we  must  make  the  most  of  what  little 
time  remains,  for  never  in  all  eternity  shall  we  have 
things  so  much  to  our  liking  as  at  present." 

Some  of  the  more  intelligent  of  the  inhabitants 
realised  that  this  night  in  the  midst  of  day  was 
merely  an  ordinary  eclipse  of  the  sun,  which  would 
soon  pass  and  had  no  greater  significance  than  that 
the  plague  or  the  Turks  were  coming.  And  they 
were  right,  for  in  an  hour  it  was  all  over  and  the 
sun  shone  brightly  as  before,  showing  not  the 
slightest  trace  of  its  conflict  with  the  dragon. 
Soon  after  this  the  report  was  circulated:  "The 
Turks  are  coming!  " 

These  words  were  fraught  with  terror  in  former 
days,  for  Trawies  could  still  show  many  a  memento 
of  deeds  of  cruelty  performed  in  olden  times  by  the 
hordes  from  the  East.  Now  the  news  made  little 
impression  excepting  one  of  curiosity  and  satisfac- 
tion. The  Turks  would  be  congenial  companions 
to  the  Trawiesers  in  their  present  condition. 

From  the  summit  of  the  Rockenberg  and  the 
Johannesberg  a  strange  light  could  be  seen  at  night 
rising  over  the  distant  plains,  and  news  was  brought 
from  the  Trasank  that  Neubruck  and  Oberkloster 
were  in  flames. 

This  caused  great  rejoicing  among  the  people, 
who  said:   "The  ring  of  fire  with  which  the  au- 


The  Expiation  m 

thorities  once  surrounded  Trawies  is  now  extending 
outwards.  It  will  not  be  long  before  the  rich  and 
noble  men  of  Neubruck  and  Oberkloster  and  Alten- 
ziel  will  come  and  take  refuge  in  our  woods  and 
caves:  they  will  be  most  welcome!"  But  they 
clenched  their  fists  as  they  spoke  and  gripped  their 
daggers  more  firmly. 

The  boundaries  were  no  longer  guarded,  and  grass 
was  again  growing  on  the  spots  where  the  fires  were 
lighted  at  the  time  of  the  ban.  The  trees  to  which 
the  symbolic  cord  had  been  fastened  were  sprouting 
anew,  or  had  withered  and  died.  The  neighbour- 
ing villages,  even  those  at  some  distance  from  these 
ill-famed  forests,  had  erected  gallows  as  a  welcome 
to  visitors  from  Trawies.  The  more  charitable 
people  outside,  however,  had  made  a  few  attempts 
to  open  some  kind  of  friendly  communication, 
silently  ignoring  the  ban  in  their  desire  gradually  to 
bring  the  parish  back  to  civilisation.  But  the  rabble 
in  the  forests  would  have  none  of  it.  They  were 
quite  content  with  their  savage  freedom  and  felt  no 
longing  for  taxes  and  slavery,  or  for  military  serv- 
ice, which  would  endanger  their  lives  without  fair 
recompense. 

One  day  a  man  from  Neubruck,  fleeing  from  the 
Turks,  took  refuge  in  Trawies.  He  brought  with 
him  the  following  report  of  the  condition  of  things 
outside :  War  in  the  east,  war  in  the  west,  and  war 
at  home.  Grasshoppers  had  destroyed  the  harvest, 
the  Ottomans  had  emptied  the  larders,  desecrated 
the  churches,  and  burned  the  cities.  The  ruling 
prince  was  quarrelling  with  the  bishops,  and  the 


37^  The  God  Seeker 

bishops  were  calling  in  the  Hungarians  to  their  aid  ; 
a  new  enemy,  but  one  whose  cruelties  were  no  less 
severe  than  those  of  the  Turks.  And  further,  dur- 
ing these  last  years,  Jews  had  taken  up  their  abode 
in  the  land,  pursuing  the  pedlar's  trade,  drinking 
the  blood  of  children,  and  poisoning  the  springs. 
They  had  been  ordered  to  leave,  but  had  not  gone: 
as  soon  as  the  present  enemies  were  dispersed,  how- 
ever, the  extermination  of  the  Jews  would  begin. 
Trawies  was  invited  to  take  part. 

One  of  the  Trawiesers  replied:  "  Why  should  we 
trouble  ourselves  about  the  Jews  ?  What  we  want 
is  to  exterminate  the  priests  and  noblemen!  " 

"  But  do  you  not  know,"  said  the  man  from 
Neubruck,  "  that  the  Jews  have  brought  a  horrible 
plague  into  the  country,  which  is  spreading  by 
means  of  the  rivers  and  streams  ?  Many  infected 
homes  have  been  burned  and  whole  villages  quaran- 
tined. One  Jew  was  caught  in  the  act  of  putting 
poison  into  a  well;  he  was  thrown  to  the  dogs." 

The  people  of  Trawies  listened  to  these  horrible 
tales  with  beaming  faces,  and  when  the  stranger 
had  told  all  that  he  knew — and  possibly  more — for 
the  benefit  of  his  listeners,  they  robbed  him  of  his 
money,  his  cloak,  and  his  boots,  then  mockingly  in- 
vited him  to  join  them  in  the  hunt.  He  wandered 
about  for  a  few  days  in  the  shadow  of  the  forest. 
He  lived  upon  herbs  and  whortleberries,  finally 
taking  refuge  in  a  half-ruined  hut,  where  he  died  a 
miserable  death.  When  the  body  was  found,  it  was 
covered  with  black  spots. 

**  Let  no  one  touch  it!  "  said  the  horrified  people, 


The  Expiation  379 

hastening  away.  Drawing  a  wide  circle  about  the 
hut,  they  placed  it  under  the  ban,  even  as  they 
themselves  had  been  deserted  and  cast  out  from  the 
world.  But  all  in  vain  !  The  black  death  had  sown 
its  seed  in  Trawies  and  the  uncontrollable  pestilence 
now  began. 

It  spread  from  the  lower  Trach  to  the  Diirbach 
gorge,  from  the  Trasank  valley  to  the  Rockenberg, 
and  the  people,  in  their  fright  and  despair,  fled  from 
place  to  place.  They  knew  that  medicine  was  use- 
less, so  they  sought  to  protect  themselves  with 
oracles  and  amulets.  But  the  Heavenly  Powers 
recognised  no  prayers  from  Trawies. 

As  the  pestilence  increased  in  force,  many  re- 
sorted to  brandy,  and  comparatively  few  of  the 
drinkers  succumbed.  Thus  Ursula,  the  schnapps 
distiller,  rose  in  the  estimation  of  all. 

The  few  sober  inhabitants  endeavoured  to  pre- 
serve the  last  remnant  of  order.  The  houses  and 
huts  where  deaths  from  the  plague  had  occurred 
were  burned  or  closed ;  communication  almost  en- 
tirely ceased ;  the  people  fled  from  one  another,  and 
where  intercourse  was  necessary  it  was  held  across 
streams  or  fires,  for  they  had  discovered  the  purify- 
ing effects  of  fire. 

"  We  should  have  another  Tarn  to  burn,"  said 
one. 

"  Let  us  set  fire  to  the  Ritscher,"  proposed 
another. 

"To  plunge  into  the  flames  ourselves  would  be 
the  quickest  remedy,"  said  a  third,  with  a  hollow 
laugh. 


3^0  The  God  Seeker 

"  The  devil  is  tightening  his  infernal  net  about 
us,"  they  cursed. 

They  hoped  that  in  the  autumn  the  frosts  would 
destroy  the  poison,  and  the  winter  passed  without 
demanding  many  victims.  But  when  the  sun  againi 
stood  high  in  the  heavens,  and  the  snow  had  melted,, 
causing  mists  to  rise  in  the  valleys,  the  pestilence 
broke  out  anew.  And  on  Midsummer  Day — this 
joyous  festival  of  happier  times  in  Trawies — count- 
less fires  were  burning  as  of  old,  but  they  were  more 
like  the  sentinel  fires  upon  a  battlefield  than  those 
which  formerly  celebrated  the  sacred  feast.  Here 
burned  a  house  whose  last  inhabitant  had  died; 
there  blazed  a  brushwood  fire  between  two  men 
who  were  taking  counsel  together;  and  yonder  a 
wood-pile  was  burning,  about  which  a  whole  family, 
trembling  with  fear,  had  gathered;  for  this  advice 
had  been  sent  down  to  them  from  the  Johannes- 
berg:  "  Depend  upon  the  fire!  " 

"  Yes,"  said  an  old  Trawieser, —  it  was  Rocken- 
Paul, — "  I  should  have  some  faith  in  that,  if  we  still 
had  our  ancestral  fire :  the  heat  from  the  ring  of 
flame  brings  no  healing." 

The  chronicle  gives  us  one  touching  picture  from 
out  this  gloomy  period. 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  Trasank  valley,  close  to 
the  mountain,  stood  the  house  of  Sand-Nantel.  He 
had  taken  Josa  for  his  wife  without  much  ceremony, 
but  they  did  not  mingle  with  the  new  parish,  man- 
aging to  nourish  themselves  from  that  which  grew 
among  the  stones. 

One  day,  Nantel,  with  a  cry  of  terror,  staggered 


The  Expiation  381 

and  fell  f<?  the  Aoor;  his  wife  sprang  to  his  side,  but 
he  motioned  her  back:  "  Leave  me  alone;  do  not 
touch  me!  Go  to  the  children!"  he  gasped,  trying 
to  rise  without  her  aid. 

"  What  ails  thee,  dear  man  ?  Where  wilt  thou- 
:go?" 

"  To  the  brook.  Away  with  thee!  I  must  have 
•some  water, —  look  at  these  black  spots, —  I  must 
wash  myself!  " 

Drops  of  cold  sweat  stood  upon  his  forehead  and 
.he  fainted. 

Josa  bathed  the  feverish  skin,  gave  him  water  to 
(COol  his  burning  tongue,  moistened  his  dim  eyes, 
;and  did  not  leave  him. 

"  Thou  shouldst  have  left  me,"  he  murmured. 
■"  I  would  rather  be  drowned  or  be  buried  alive  than 
to  have  this  happen ;  for  then  I  should  not  have 
•exposed  you  all." 

"No,  Nantel,  thou  wilt  not  die.     Thou  wilt  live." 

He  laughed  a  hoarse  laugh,  then  added  softly: 
"  I  hope,  dearest  wife,  we  shall  all  live  again.  If 
thou  lovest  me,  go  to  the  children  now — and  let  me 
sleep." 

It  was  already  late  in  the  night  and  Josa  left  him  ; 
but  when  a  few  moments  later  she  returned,  the  sick 
man  was  not  there  and  the  outside  door  stood  open. 
She  ran  out,  calling  him  by  his  name,  which  the 
rocks  mockingly  re-echoed  to  her.  It  was  a  terrible 
night  for  the  poor  woman.  She  did  not  find  her 
husband  till  morning;  he  was  concealed  in  a  thicket, 
lying  in  a  deep,  newly  shovelled  grave,  partially 
covered  with  earth.     So  Nantel,  preparing  for  the 


3^2  The  God  Seeker 

worst,  had  dug  his  own  grave,  and  had  laid  himself 
therein  to  die — that  he  might  not  expose  his  wife 
and  children. 

It  was  as  if  Fate  were  touched  by  the  loyalty  of 
this  brave  heart ;  in  Nantel's  family  no  other  mem- 
ber died,  and  they  were  all  able  to  escape  from  the 
wilderness  of  the  Trasank,  away  from  the  fated 
region,  after  watering  the  beloved  grave  with  their 
tears. 


CHAPTER    II 

ON  one  of  these  days  of  indescribable  misery  the 
people  of  Trawies  ascended  to  the  Wildwiese 
where  formerly  the  Midsummer  Festival  had  been 
celebrated. 

They  were  not  assembling  for  counsel  or  to  seek 
aid  from  one  another,  for  they  were  helpless  and 
utterly  discouraged.  And  in  not  a  single  soul  could 
be  found  the  peace  of  resignation.  They  all  trem- 
bled at  their  present  hopeless  condition  and  were 
terrified  at  the  thought  of  death.  But  they  had 
been  told  that  on  the  mountain  the  air  was  purer 
than  in  the  valley.  Near  the  waterfall,  at  the  edge 
of  the  precipice,  they  built  a  huge  fire,  about  which 
they  gathered  in  a  semicircle.  Each  endeavoured 
to  avoid  the  other,  yet  fear  and  the  longing  for 
friendly  intercourse  drew  them  together.  If  one 
spoke,  the  other  tightly  closed  his  lips,  or  nibbled  a 
bit  of  gentian  root,  and  mothers  no  longer  kissed 
their  children.  They  sat  close  to  the  fire,  for  that 
was  their  only  remedy.  Had  it  been  possible  they 
would  have  drunk  the  flames.  As  evening  fell  and 
the  precipice  glowed  from  the  reflection  of  the  fire, 
they  still  sat  or  huddled  together  before  it,  like  a 
frightened  herd  of  sheep  exhausted  by  the  pursuit 

3S3 


3^4  The  God  Seeker 

of  wolves.  Most  of  them  knew  not  whither  to  turn; 
their  own  hearths  among  the  grey  rocks  of  the  Tra- 
sank  valley  or  beneath  some  old,  decaying  pine-tree 
were  roofless. 

A  poor,  emaciated  woman  suddenly  appeared  in 
their  midst,  her  eyes  beaming  with  joy.  She  related 
that  just  now,  when  gathering  herbs  on  the  hill- 
side, she  had  heard  a  strange  sound,  and  what 
should  it  prove  to  be  but  the  church  bells  of  Tra- 
wies! 

The  church  bells  ringing!  The  crowd  started  at 
once  and  rushed  to  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  from 
where  they  could  look  down  into  Trawies.  They 
heard  nothing,  however,  but  the  roaring  of  the 
Trach.  Some  of  the  company  sneered  at  the  idea 
that  there  could  still  be  people  among  them  who 
were  startled  at  the  sound  of  church  bells;  but  there 
were  others  who  bowed  their  heads  as  they  remem- 
bered the  time  when  their  sorrows  and  joys  were 
carried  heavenward  by  the  voice  of  the  bells.  Oh, 
those  happy  days,  when  the  Church,  with  the  sweet, 
comforting  tones  of  her  bells,  sang  her  children  to 
their  eternal  rest!  A  sad  farewell  from  this  world, 
but  a  joyful  message  of  welcome  from  heaven. 

And  now,  how  horrible  death  had  become  for 
them,  with  no  comfort  here  and  no  hope  hereafter! 
A  strong,  powerful  man,  the  most  savage  among 
these  woodspeople,  stretched  his  arms  out  towards 
the  star-lit  sky,  and  like  one  drowning,  cried  in  a 
wild,  despairing  voice:  "Thou  hast  deserted  us. 
Thou  terrible  God  !  " 

X)ne  by  oae  they  returned  t.o  the  fire  3Jid  ,contip^- 


The  Expiation  385 

ued  their  cursing  and  praying.  The  cloud  of  smoke 
arched  like  a  protecting  roof  over  these  homeless 
ones,  like  a  cathedral  over  the  faithful.  They  gazed 
into  the  fire,  as  though  they  would  bury  therein  all 
their  woes;  as  though,  like  that  repentant  robber 
chief  in  the  legend,  they  would  here  burn  their 
hearts,  that  their  souls  might  soar  to  heaven  in  the 
form  of  a  white  dove. 

But  what  was  that  dark  object  yonder  in  the 
glow?  It  seemed  to  be  rising  from  the  very  flames. 
Those  who  first  saw  it  started  back  with  a  cry  of  ter- 
ror, shielding  their  faces  with  their  hands.  Upon  a 
rock,  behind  the  blazing  fire,  as  though  wrapped  in 
a  mantle  of  flame,  stood  a  human  form — it  was 
Wahnfred. 

His  eyes  glowed  with  a  solemn  light,  his  hair  and 
beard  were  long,  and  his  face  was  flushed.  A  dark 
mantle  covered  his  figure,  making  it  appear  more 
slender  and  more  weird.  His  hands  were  clenched, 
but  gradually  they  relaxed. 

"  His  ghost !  His  ghost !  "  whispered  the  crowd, 
each  trying  to  hide  behind  the  other. 

Then  the  powerful  voice  of  Wahnfred,  who,  hav- 
ing descended  from  his  mountain,  now  appeared  to 
be  rising  from  the  fire,  cried  out: 

**  People  of  Trawies,  do  not  fear  or  do  not  rebel. 
I  come  to  you  bringing  you  the  mercy  of  God." 

The    murmuring    and   whispering  ceased.     With 

iglances  of  astonishment  or  of  defiance  the  people 

.gazed  across  the  fire  towards  the  rock  where  this 

strange  man    stood.     Not  a  sound  other  than  the 

tcrackling   of   the   flames   and  .the  .roaring  of  the 


386  The  God  Seeker 

waterfall  was  heard,  until  Wahnfred  again  raised  his 
voice  and,  with  the  earnestness  and  reverence  of  a 
prophet,  began  to  speak : 

"  Trawies !  I  have  found  God.  He  Whose  bless- 
ings no  man  can  give,  and  Whose  curse  no  man  can 
remove,  sends  me.  He  has  always  been  with  you ; 
you  have  seen  Him,  but  you  have  not  known  Him. 
Every  hour  of  your  lives  is  a  gift  of  mercy  from 
Him ;  no  deed  takes  place  which  His  fiery  eye  does 
not  witness.  You  have  not  known  this,  therefore 
you  have  grown  evil ;  the  presence  of  God  makes 
only  those  happy  who  believe  in  Him,  and  you  have 
been  damned  because  this  faith  has  been  taken  from 
you. 

"  People  of  Trawies!  I  give  Him  back  to  you. 
The  same  old,  loving,  terrible  God.  He  has  awak- 
ened you  to  the  light  of  the  sun.  He  has  smitten 
you  with  His  lightning  stroke.  He  has  looked  down 
at  you  from  the  stars,  has  smiled  at  you  from  the 
altar  lamp.  When  the  powerful  ones  cast  you  out, 
He  embraced  you  with  a  ring  of  fire  and  He  built 
His  temple  in  the  Tarn.  You  gather  around  Him 
now,  knowing  that  His  warm  breath  will  protect 
you.  He  is  everywhere,  even  where  He  is  feared. 
He  quivers  in  the  clouds.  He  springs  forth  from 
stones.  He  breaks  the  ice  of  the  Trasank,  He  is  the 
Eternal  Creator,  Supporter,  and  Destroyer.  He  is 
the  Power  and  the  Light.  If  He  has  not  blinded 
your  eyes,  ye  people  of  Trawies,  then  behold  Him, 
for  He  stands  before  you  in  all  His  glory!  His 
body  is  the  fire!     Fire  is  the  visible  God !  " 

These  words  were  like  a  refreshing  shower,  a  mild 


The  Expiation  3S7 

spring  rain,  upon  the  frozen  hearts  of  the  people. 
The  flames  soared  silently  heavenward,  partially 
covering  the  dark  figure  standing  behind  them  on 
the  rock. 

Wahnfred  waited  for  the  excited  minds  to  become 
calm,  then  with  uplifted  arm  he  continued : 

"  False  prophets  would  tear  our  love  and  thank- 
fulness to  God  from  our  hearts,  by  telling  us  that 
fire  is  of  hell  and  belongs  to  the  kingdom  of  the 
devil,  and  that  it  is  the  punishment  of  the  wicked. 
Trawies  killed  one  of  these  prophets,  and  so  they 
have  damned  us,  have  endeavoured  to  imprison  us 
within  the  ring  of  fire,  not  dreaming  that  with  the 
flames  they  were  surrounding  us  with  the  kingdom 
of  God,  wherein  the  poor  and  the  unfortunate  would 
be  purified  as  by  fire. 

"  People  of  Trawies!  You  have  misunderstood 
the  heavenly  mercy.  There  is  a  path  bordered  by 
roses,  which  leads  to  hell;  the  world  chooses  this; 
and  there  is  a  path  which  leads  to  hell  through  mis- 
ery and  sorrow ;  this  you  have  trod.  Where  is  Tra- 
wies ?  It  stands  between  the  earth  and  hell ;  for  it 
has  robbed,  it  has  murdered,  it  has  committed 
crimes  and  wrought  destruction.  If  I  should  be 
asked  to-day :  *  Where  is  the  valley  of  malefactors  ? ' 
I  would,  with  tears  in  my  eyes  and  with  trembling 
hand,  point  at  Trawies.  May  my  eyes  be  blinded 
if  my  tears  be  not  those  of  a  mourning  heart ;  may 
my  arm  be  struck  off  if  it  be  not  outstretched  to 
help  you !  The  God  of  our  fathers,  Who  has  come 
down  to  us  in  the  spark  of  ancestral  fire  that  has 
been  sacredly  and  faithfully  guarded,  where  is  He  ? 


388  The  God  Seeker 

The  fire  guardian  you  have  allowed  to  die  in  misery, 
you  have  desecrated  his  house,  and  when  I  ask  you, 
where  is  the  fire  ?  what  is  your  answer  ?  You  have 
pursued  it,  scorned  it,  and  extinguished  it,  and  now 
you  expect  it  to  protect  you.  You  say  that  the 
world  has  taken  God  from  you.  This  is  false.  You 
alone  have  banished  our  holy  fire  from  the  valley  of 
the  Trach.  On  a  dark  night,  accompanied  by  a 
helpless  child,  it  fled  into  the  wilderness,  as,  ac- 
cording to  the  Holy  Writ,  the  child  Jesus  fled  be- 
fore Herod.  To  a  man  living  in  solitude,  who  had 
prayed  and  kept  alive  the  love  of  God  in  his  heart, 
came  the  sacred  light,  the  ancestral  fire,  and  he  re- 
ceived it.  God's  mercy  was  in  the  tiny  spark,  and 
he  recognised  it,  preserved  it,  and  worshipped  it,  and 
now  he  comes  to  you  with  the  message  that  it  stilt 
lives  and  is  near  you.  Yes,  people  of  Trawies,  now 
I  see  your  eyes  brighten  as  though  God  were  dwell- 
ing in  you.  But  I  say  unto  you,  He  is  not  yet  with 
you!  He,  the  Omnipresent  One,  does  not  dwell  in 
hearts  that  are  cold,  without  joy,  without  hope, 
without  love.  He  does  not  make  His  abiding-place 
with  mistrust,  with  fear,  and  with  despair.  For  the 
moment,  while  you  hear  the  scraping  of  the  shovel 
with  which  an  invisible  hand  is  digging  your  graves, 
your  passions  are  dulled.  But  I  fear  that  the  flame, 
which  is  consuming  the  breath  of  the  pestilence 
above  your  heads,  will  not  warm  your  degenerate 
hearts;  for  you  have  become  a  wicked  people!  It 
were  a  thousand  times  better,  O  most  righteous 
God,  that  Thou  shouldst  destroy  that  which  is  not 
fit  to  live!" 


The  Expiation  3^9 

"  No!"  cried  a  few  voices;  "  let  us  live;  only  let 
us  live!  " 

"  Only  let  us  live !  "  cried  the  entire  assembly,  and 
many  knelt  groaning  before  the  fire  and  began  to 
pray. 

"  Now,  you  pray,"  continued  Wahnfred,  his 
voice  growing  clearer  and  more  powerful;  "  now 
that  you  have  sinned,  now  that  you  have  deserted 
your  dead  comrades,  now  that  you  have  fled  thirst- 
ing from  your  springs  and  no  longer  trust  the  air  of 
your  native  forest,  now,  you  pray! " 

They  interrupted  him,  and,  deeply  stirred  and 
shaken  by  his  recent  reference  to  the  threatening  dan- 
ger, they  implored  for  mercy,  they  swore  that  thence- 
forth they  would  live  according  to  the  will  of  God. 

One  among  them,  the  emaciated  Wend  from  the 
Gestade,  rose  and  said:  "  I  also  wish  to  live,  but  as 
long  as  I  do  not  know  what  God  requires  of  me,  I 
will  promise  nothing." 

To  him  Wahnfred  replied:  "  God  wishes  you  to 
live  as  well  as  the  others.  Be  like  the  fire,  if  you 
would  be  happy, — be  warm,  then  you  will  be  a  com- 
fort to  yourself  and  to  your  comrades." 

A  comfort  to  one's  self  and  to  others!  That 
sounded  like  a  fairy  tale  of  olden  times. 

"  It  is  not  life  alone  that  we  wish,"  exclaimed  a 
voice  from  the  crowd;  "  we  care  nothing  for  the 
others,  we  wish  to  be  happy  ourselves.  To  speak 
the  truth,  we  are  not  so  eager  for  God ;  what  we 
desire  is  heaven!  " 

"  Yes,"  cried  many  voices,  "it  is  heaven  we 
desire!  " 


390  The  God  Seeker 

"  Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  right- 
eousness," said  Wahnfred,  "  then  heaven  will  come 
of  itself." 

"  Shall  we  seek  it  amid  war,  hunger,  and  pesti- 
lence ? "  asked  Wend,  scornfully. 

"What  is  war,  hunger,  and  pestilence  to  us?" 
cried  Wahnfred,  with  an  expression  in  his  eyes  which 
might  have  been  taken  for  madness.  "  Go,  people 
of  Trawies,  return  to  your  valley  with  peace  in  your 
hearts,  and  you  will  no  longer  fear  the  pestilence — 
it  will  soon  be  over.  You  will  no  longer  hate,  no 
longer  deride,  no  longer  weep;  but  your  eyes  will 
be  opened ;  you  have  experienced  what  the  earth 
can  take  from  you,  now  you  shall  see  what  she  can 
give  you.  You  will  not  starve.  You  will  plough  your 
fields  once  more;  hail-stones  may  fall  upon  them, 
but  you  will  not  perish.  You  will  rebuild  your 
houses;  they  may  be  destroyed,  but  you  will  not  be 
roofless  or  homeless.  You  shall  erect  a  temple  to  the 
Eternal  Fire,  you  will  come  there  to  pray  and  shall 
find  strength  to  endure.  The  wild  brute  within  you, 
which  is  the  origin  of  all  evil,  which  nourishes  all 
crime,  and  which  grim  death  is  pursuing  with  its 
sickle,  this  brute  you  must  cast  from  you.  Go  down 
from  this  mountain  as  human  beings  once  more,  that 
you  may  find  human  beings  in  the  valley  below!  " 

"Let  us  remain  here  on  the  mountain!"  cried 
many  voices. 

"What  would  you  on  the  mountain?"  asked 
Wahnfred,  descending  from  the  rock. 

"  Oh,  stay  up  there  and  tell  us  more  of  God!  " 
they  implored. 


The  Expiation  391 

"  You  wish  to  hear  again  the  voice  of  the  preacher, 
the  old  familiar  and  long-missed  tones.  But  I  say 
unto  you,  God  is  not  in  words,  God  is  in  works,  and 
to  these  I  will  now  guide  you." 

"  Then  you  will  come  with  us  ?" 

"  Not  I  with  you,  people  of  Trawies,  but  you 
with  me.  Woe  to  him,"  shouted  Wahnfred  in  pow- 
erful tones,  while  sparks  seemed  to  fly  from  his 
darkening  eyes,  causing  the  eyelids  of  even  the  most 
savage  in  that  company  to  quiver,  "woe  to  him  who 
opposes  me!  God  Almighty  is  with  me.  Arise, 
light  the  torches,  and  let  us  go." 


CHAPTER   III 

THE  old  chronicle  tells  us  that  Wahnfred  now  led 
the  people  down  to  the  valley,  where  he  en- 
deavoured to  restore  order,  industry,  and  unity.  By 
the  power  of  his  words,  by  the  fantastic  symbols  of 
his  speech,  by  commands  and  threats,  which  seemed 
to  produce  an  effect  upon  these  disordered  and  ex- 
cited natures,  he  succeeded  in  inducing  them  to 
bury  the  dead  and  to  destroy  the  infected  houses. 
He  was  always  foremost  in  this  work ;  he  showed  no 
fear  in  approaching  the  sick  or  in  comforting  the 
dying.  He  rested  neither  day  nor  night;  he  was 
friend,  physician,  and  priest  to  everyone — and  was 
not  stricken  himself. 

He  held  a  funeral  service  for  the  dead  in 
the  forest,  lighting  a  great  sacrificial  fire,  about 
which  old  penitential  hymns  were  chanted.  This 
increased  the  solemnity  of  death,  but  lessened  its 
terrors. 

Gradually  the  pestilence  diminished,  the  cases 
grew  less  frequent,  and  at  last  the  deaths  from  the 
plague  ceased  altogether. 

Among  those  who  had  disappeared  during  this 
time  was  Little  Baumhackel.  Long  afterwards, 
when  the  old,  ruined  church  was  reopened,  a  human 

392 


The  Expiation  393 

skeleton,  supposed  to  be  that  of  the  Faun  of  Tra- 
wies,  was  found  hanging  to  the  bell-rope. 

Life  in  the  valley  now  seemed  more  peaceful,  but 
it  was  only  apparent.  The  people  of  the  outlying 
regions  were  still  far  from  pardoning  this  lawless 
folk,  and  whenever  discord  reigned  without,  the 
defiance  and  hate  against  the  rabble  in  the  forest 
was  aroused  anew.  Once  more,  and  for  the  last 
time, —  Wahnfred  sought  to  open  negotiations  for 
peace  with  the  church  authorities. 

How  could  he  even  suggest  such  a  thing!  was  the 
reproach  with  which  the  Trawiesers  met  this  pro- 
posal. Did  he  not  know  that  the  heretics  outside 
would  straightway  put  an  end  to  his  teachings,  to- 
gether with  the  prophet  and  the  parish?  Now  that 
they  were  standing  on  firm  ground  again  with  him 
at  their  side,  and  with  their  hope  of  heaven  restored 
— to  fall  prostrate  before  the  cross  now  ?  Not  to  be 
thought  of! 

A  few  of  the  people  had  begun  to  cultivate  the 
fields,  which  for  many  years  had  served  as  grazing 
grounds  for  cattle,  goats,  and  sheep,  or  else  had  run 
wild.  But  with  the  existing  conditions  no  regular 
work  was  possible ;  they  quarrelled  over  the  bound- 
ary lines,  over  the  land  itself,  and  even  over  the 
men  who  worked  it  and  over  the  seed  that  had 
been  smuggled  into  the  forest.  There  was  no  law 
here  which  seemed  just  to  these  people,  and  if  per- 
chance one  happened  to  be  discovered,  either  in 
some  old  statute-book  or  in  the  brain  of  some  old 
man,  only  those  obeyed  it  to  whom  it  appealed. 
The   others   despised   and   cursed   it.      Wahnfred, 


394  The  God  Seeker 

before  whom  they  felt  respect  and  a  certain  awe, 
could  not  always  be  present  among  them.  Thus 
that  oldest  code  of  all — the  right  of  might — was 
often  adopted. 

However,  they  clung  earnestly,  even  passionately, 
to  the  new  faith  in  the  Fire  God.  The  people's  need 
for  some  form  of  religion  is  always  great,  but  at  that 
time  when  their  ideals  consisted  mostly  in  the  cere- 
monies of  religious  worship,  it  was  much  greater 
than  now.  Religious  faith  in  those  days  was  very 
closely  allied  to  superstition,  even  to  witchcraft. 
One  followed  the  other.  Both  were  the  daily  bread 
of  the  poor  souls  of  that  age.  Those  who  had  been 
cast  out  from  the  Church  degenerated  rapidly,  or 
became  victims  of  ideas  which  endangered  their  very 
existence;  and  those  who  had  no  God  gave  them- 
selves up  to  the  devil. 

Wahnfred  had  known  how  to  awaken  a  deep  re- 
ligious fanaticism  in  the  people  of  Trawies,  which 
was  all  the  more  intense  because  so  long  repressed. 
They  now  worshipped  everything  that  was  light, 
from  the  sun  down  to  the  glow-worm.  At  last  they 
comprehended  why  fire  was  so  comforting  and  so 
terrible.  To  the  fire  and  to  their  adoration  for  it, 
they  attributed  the  cessation  of  the  pestilence.  As 
they  had  formerly  carried  consecrated  crosses  and 
amulets  concealed  under  their  garments,  so  now  they 
went  about  with  tiny  torches  or  burning  tinder.  As 
formerly  they  had  knelt  before  their  shrines,  so  now 
they  knelt  before  their  hearths,  watching  the  fire 
and  chanting  old  hymns.  As  formerly  they  had 
sprinkled  themselves  with  holy  water,  so  now  they 


The  Expiation  395 

held  a  spark  over  their  heads  and  felt  that  they  were 
blessed. 

Some  asked  Wahnfred  to  allow  them  to  light 
their  hearth-fires  with  a  spark  from  the  ancestral  fire ; 
but  this  he  refused,  telling  them  that  so  long  as  they 
worshipped  merely  the  symbol  of  God  and  did  not 
change  their  lives  in  accordance,  they  were  un- 
worthy of  the  sacred  relic. 

In  the  hut  on  the  Johannesberg,  surrounded  by 
the  shadows  of  the  forest,  the  little  lamp  shone  un- 
ceasingly. Wahnfred  guarded  it  and  placed  it  in 
the  greatest  security,  never  allowing  it  to  be  extin- 
guished. He  defended  it  carefully  against  thieves; 
it  was  sheltered  from  every  breath  of  wind ;  yet 
how  easily  a  gnat  might  have  fallen  into  the  oil  or 
a  butterfly  have  extinguished  the  light  with  its 
wings!  Wahnfred's  lustrous  eyes  had  been  absorb- 
ing this  spark  until  they  seemed  to  see  nothing  on 
the  earth  or  in  the  sky  but  fire.  How  long  he  had 
struggled  to  find  a  way  in  which  to  proclaim  this 
mighty  power  to  the  people  of  Trawies!  And  now 
that  he  had  found  it  and  had  proclaimed  it,  he  him- 
self was  in  its  thrall.  The  legends  and  Gospels  of 
the  Bible  were  as  though  covered  with  a  mist,  sur- 
rounded by  this  blazing  ring  of  flame.  His  soul 
had,  like  a  moth,  fluttered  about  it  so  constantly 
that  it  was  suddenly  caught  and  held. 

In  the  meantime  the  people  in  the  valleys  of 
Trawies,  who  were  trying  to  adapt  themselves 
to  their  newly  built  huts,  were  going  about 
with  mean,  craven  hearts,  sinning  against  them- 
selves   and   others.     Their   penance  for  their  sins 


•^ 


96  The  God  Seeker 


was  to  hold  a  finger  over  a  flame  until  they  writhed 
with  pain. 

In  the  spring,  when  the  men  should  have  been 
working  in  fields  and  gardens,  they  would  be  found 
lying  about  a  fire  which  they  had  made  on  the 
edge  of  the  forest  and  which  seemed  to  be  the 
only  care  they  had  in  the  world.  In  their  quarrels 
they  defended  themselves  with  firebrands.  If  a 
man  lost  his  life  in  one  of  these  fights,  according  to 
the  new  law  he  was  burned,  not  buried. 

And  these  were  not  the  worst  people.  The  rabble 
still  wandered  about  in  the  region  as  before;  and 
their  lives  were  a  fire  without  warmth  and  their 
deeds  were  those  of  darkness. 

In  the  Trasank  valley  an  old  woman  had  been 
caught  who  for  a  long  time  had  borne  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  witch.  It  was  Kofel,  the  herb-doctor 
and  magic-healer.  She  prayed  away  disease,  applied 
all  kinds  of  mysterious  remedies,  and  many  had  faith 
in  her  power  to  heal.  But  when  the  pestilence  broke 
out  and  her  arts  proved  worthless,  and  she  was  dis- 
covered performing  various  weird,  uncanny  rites,  she 
became  suspected.  A  shepherd  from  Traboden  was 
the  first  to  call  her  a  witch.  He  was  immediately 
taken  ill  and  was  now  dying;  thus  the  people  were 
certain  that  she  belonged  to  the  devil. 

Some  defended  her,  saying:  "Why  should  she 
not  belong  to  the  devil?  That  is  what  old  women 
are  meant  for  in  this  world.  As  all  Trawies  be- 
longs to  the  devil,  why  should  she  not  boldly 
practise  her  arts?"  And  they  went  to  her  for 
instruction  in  these  arts.     This  she  refused,  telling 


The  Expiation  397 

them  that  she  would  carry  her  secrets  with  her  to 
the  grave. 

But  since  the  new  faith  had  been  adopted  and  the 
people  once  more  had  a  God,  they  considered  it 
their  duty  to  oppose  the  devil.  The  old  woman 
still  clung  to  her  magic,  reviling  the  new  faith  as  a 
heresy.  They  finally  pursued  her,  took  her  prisoner, 
and  dragged  her  to  Trawies,  where  they  had  planned 
to  burn  her  to  death.  They  were  already  assembled 
to  see  the  spectacle,  carrying  wood  and  vying  with 
one  another  to  build  the  pyre  as  high  as  possible, 
while  the  little  woman,  gagged  and  deathly  pale, 
was  cowering  under  a  tree,  staring  with  horrified 
eyes  at  the  busy  crowd.  Just  at  this  moment  Wahn- 
fred  arrived.  At  first  he  thought  they  were  build- 
ing a  house  and  he  rejoiced  at  the  enterprise  of  his 
Trawiesers.  But  as  he  saw  what  was  about  to  take 
place,  he  was  filled  with  anger  and  cried : 

"  Have  you  gone  mad  ?  You  call  old  Kofel  a 
witch,  and  you  would  throw  her  into  the  arms  of 
God!  Would  you  desecrate  your  fire?  Let  her  go; 
if  she  belongs  to  the  devil,  he  will  take  care  of  her." 

They  comprehended,  freed  the  woman,  and  of- 
fered penitential  prayers  before  the  fire. 

Wahnfred  had  been  trying  to  devise  means  to 
keep  the  people  occupied,  to  impose  upon  them 
some  compulsory  service  which  should  hold  them 
within  bounds.  Their  delusion  should  aid  him  in 
this  and  at  the  same  time  be  their  master.  As  he 
saw  them  building  the  funeral  pyre,  the  thought  oc- 
curred to  him :  a  temple. 

They  should  erect  a  temple  to  their  Fire  God,  a 


39^  The  God  Seeker 

building  such  as  these  mountains  had  never  seen  be- 
fore, a  soh'd,  massive  structure,  made  of  logs  from 
the  primeval  forest;  a  fortress  for  the  priest,  a  re- 
fuge for  the  parish,  the  heart  of  the  new  Trawies. 
But  it  must  not  stand  in  the  valley,  to  be  dominated 
by  the  mountains  or  where  it  might  be  destroyed  by 
torrents.  It  mattered  little  if  the  old  Trawies,  with 
its  church,  should  fall  in  ruins,  or  if  a  wilderness 
should  grow  up  about  the  Dreiwand.  The  new  place 
of  worship  must  stand  upon  the  heights  and  gleam 
in  the  sun  like  a  flaming  table  of  laws. 

A  flaming  table  of  laws!  Could  the  brain  of  the 
stern  man,  Wahnfred,  be  already  conceiving  the 
idea,  as  he  was  planning  the  temple,  of  what  was 
one  day  to  take  place  upon  the  Johannesberg  ? 
Filled  with  the  desire  to  wrest  Trawies  from  its 
misery,  to  elevate  it,  strengthen  it,  and  bring  it  once 
more  into  harmony  with  human  society,  he  ascended 
the  mountain.  On  the  summit  was  a  small  rocky 
plateau,  which  on  three  sides  fell  abruptly  to  the 
valley.  Upon  this  spot  he  drew  with  his  stick  the 
ground  plan  of  the  new  temple. 


CHAPTER   IV 

WITH  an  inquiring  look  you  turn  to  the  nar- 
rator of  these  events — asking  him  by  what 
paths  he  must  now  lead  you. 

It  is  late  in  the  night  and  we  see  two  little  flames 
flickering  before  us.  They  are  the  signs  of  the  God- 
seekers,  the  seekers  for  heaven,  and  these  shall  be 
our  guides.  The  fire  prophet  we  know  to  be  on  the 
Johannesberg.  But  there  is  another,  who  is  seeking 
his  God  and  his  heaven  in  a  different  fire — in  the 
warmth  of  a  loving  heart. 

Wahnfred's  son,  who  upon  the  deserts  of  solitude 
had  been  overcome  by  the  passion  of  youth,  the  life- 
loving,  love-needy  Erlefried — what  had  become  of 
him  ? 

Since  that  night  when,  led  by  the  sound  of  a 
voice,  he  had  climbed  the  steep  precipice  of  the  Tor- 
stein,  at  the  foot  of  which  the  conflagration  was  be- 
ginning, Erlefried  had  not  been  seen  again.  The 
one  person  who  had  been  with  him  did  not  see  him, 
for  she  was  blind. 

Bertha,  the  young  prisoner  in  the  cave,  had  many 
times  searched  for  an  exit  by  which  she  might  es- 
cape; but  she  was  unable  to  find  her  way  through 
the  labyrinths  and  grottos,  and  was  always  glad  to 

399 


400  The  God  Seeker 

return,  guided  by  the  reflection  of  her  little  lamp, 
and  to  sink  exhausted  on  her  soft  white  couch.  She 
had  ceased  thinking  and  wondering  why  she  was  in 
this  place ;  she  no  longer  believed  what  she  said  and 
felt,  but  took  everything  for  an  illusion  of  the 
senses,  and  she  had  become  accustomed  to  the  idea 
of  madness. 

"  Thou  foolish  Bertha,"  she  often  said  to  herself, 
"  why  dost  thou  torment  thyself  ?  Thou  art  ill. 
This  is  the  Johannesberg,  and  this  is  your  house 
and  your  room,  and  it  is  not  the  dreadful  man,  it  is 
thy  good  mother  who  makes  thy  bed  and  braids  thy 
hair.  Thou  must  not  be  offended,  mother,  that  I 
am  so  rude  to  thee,  for  I  am  ill  and  my  mind  is 
haunted  by  terrible  visions.  If  only  I  could  get 
the  idea  of  this  cave  out  of  my  head  and  if  only  this 
strange  man  were  not  always  about  me ;  he  grins  so 
horribly  and  declares  that  he  is  the  devil,  and  I  am 
sure  he  is  right.  Thou  must  not  weep,  mother;  I 
will  close  my  eyes  and  shut  out  the  terrible  sights." 

On  the  day  when  the  forest  began  to  burn,  her 
uncanny  host  did  not  come  as  usual,  and,  growing 
hungry,  she  made  one  more  attempt  to  find  an  exit. 
She  wandered  about  in  the  dark  passages,  she 
climbed,  she  crawled,  and  where  the  path  seemed 
to  end  she  frantically  tore  away  the  loose  stones,  as 
if  she  would  penetrate  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
mountain,  when  suddenly  the  wall  crumbled  and 
fell  and  a  dazzling  light  met  her  eyes.  But  only 
one  brief  flash;  the  same  moment  that  showed  her 
the  light  of  day  again  plunged  her  into  eternal 
jnight.     The  nerves  of  the  eyes,  weakened  by  their 


The  Expiation  401 

long  confinement  in  darkness,  were  destroyed.  She 
realised  that  her  surroundings  were  very  different 
from  what  they  had  been ;  she  felt  the  light,  she 
breathed  the  pure  air,  she  was  free  at  last — yet  she 
could  not  see.  It  was  no  longer  the  darkness  of 
the  cavern,  with  its  shadows  and  the  dim  reflection 
of  the  lamp,  in  which  she  had  lived  for  so  many 
months,  it  was  the  grey  of  an  impenetrable  mist 
wherein  bright  stars  circled,  repeating  the  sudden 
flash  of  light  in  many  different  forms,  until  gradu- 
ally even  that  disappeared  and  there  was  nothing 
but  endless  grey. 

Bertha  clung  to  the  rocks,  feeling  her  way  along 
the  precipice  and  screaming  for  help.  This  was  the 
cry  that  Erlefried  had  heard  from  the  Devil's  Stone. 

He  thought  it  must  be  Sela,  who  had  left  him  a 
short  time  before,  and  he  was  therefore  greatly  sur- 
prised to  see,  high  up  on  the  precipice,  this  strange, 
pale,  poorly  clad  girl.  When  she  heard  his  foot- 
steps she  called  no  longer,  but  cowered  motionless. 

Night  had  already  fallen  and  the  stars  were  shin- 
ing. But  Erlefried  had  no  time  to  look  at  the  sky. 
He  was  straining  every  nerve  to  reach  the  poor, 
helpless  creature  above  him.  He  was  not  long  in 
discovering  what  a  hopelessly  wretched  being  had 
sunk  into  his  arms.  She  was  worn  and  thin,  blind, 
and  her  mind  was  wandering. 

She  wept  as  she  felt  his  warm  young  hand ;  she 
clung  to  the  slender,  supple  body ;  she  prayed  aloud 
and  spoke  of  things  which  he  did  not  understand. 

With  difficulty  he  led  her  down  the  desolate  path 
to  the  valley.     As  they  stood  beside  the  bank  of  the 


402  The  God  Seeker 

brook  and  he  was  gazing  into  the  dry  sand  search- 
ing for  water  with  which  to  revive  her,  he  saw  a  red 
glow  of  h'ght  on  the  cliff  of  the  Torstein, — a  light 
that  was  to  gleam  there  for  many  days  and  nights, — 
he  saw  the  dark  circling  cloud  of  smoke  soaring  into 
the  sky,  and  he  realised  that  he  must  flee.  Support- 
ing the  girl  on  his  arm  he  hastened  forward,  the 
rapidly  growing  flames  throwing  bands  of  light 
across  their  path.  When  they  reached  a  denser 
part  of  the  forest  the  young  man  gently  laid  his 
burden  upon  the  moss. 

Motionless,  breathless,  she  lay  there.  Had  she 
fainted  ?  Was  she  dead  ?  He  knelt  before  this 
woman,  but  where  was  his  passionate  desire  for  a 
kiss,  with  which  Sela  had  inspired  him  ?  He  was  as 
cold  as  ice.  Then  another  warmth  arose  within  him 
and  tears  gathered  in  his  eyes.  He  bent  over  this 
prostrate  form,  not  seeking  a  kiss  at  the  woman's 
lips,  but  listening  to  her  breathing  for  a  sign  of 
life. 

She  still  breathed.  Breaking  boughs  from  an 
alder-bush  he  wrapped  them  about  the  slumbering 
girl.  He  laid  himself  upon  the  ground  a  short  dis- 
tance away  from  her  and  watched,  wondering  by 
whom  he  was  watching,  what  it  all  meant,  and  what 
would  come  of  it.  "  This  is  the  devil's  game,"  he 
thought;  "he  may  keep  his  word,  yet  is  he  false 
withal,  and  now  he  is  mocking  me.  I  did  not  sell 
my  soul  for  such  a  reward  as  this  pitiful  creature 
lying  here,  clad  in  beggar's  garments.  Give  it  back 
to  me,  dog  of  hell ;  give  me  back  my  soul !  " 

The  girl  groaned  in  her  sleep.     Erlefried  longed 


The  Expiation  403 

to  pray  but  could  not.  He  succeeded  in  stammer- 
ing the  words  of  his  evening  prayer,  but  where  were 
his  thoughts  ?  With  the  devil.  The  prayer  was 
dead,  without  soul — his  soul  he  had  sold  to  another. 
Cold  drops  of  sweat  stood  upon  his  forehead  and  a 
shudder  passed  over  him. 

Then  Erlefried  turned  upon  his  side,  and  in  the 
depths  of  his  heart  he  declared  to  himself  that  the 
sly  Satan  should  not  have  him:  "  Thou  hast  de- 
ceived me  and  I  will  deceive  thee.  I  am  not  yet 
thine,  and  I  shall  not  be  until  a  new  moon  falls 
upon  a  Corpus  Christi  Day  in  Trawies.  So,  good- 
night, and  leave  me  in  peace." 

Why  should  he  have  had  an  evil  conscience  ? 
The  young  man  had  committed  no  sin,  and  he  soon 
sank  into  a  sound,  healthy  sleep. 

For  hours  they  lay  there  undisturbed,  then  Erie- 
fried  was  suddenly  wakened  by  a  curious  crackling, 
roaring  sound.  He  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  made 
the  horrible  discovery  that  they  were  surrounded 
by  a  sea  of  flame — the  fire  was  upon  them.  There 
was  barely  time  to  waken  the  girl;  but  to  reflect 
whether  or  not  he  should  leave  this  devil's  game  to 
its  own  fate  and  flee  alone,  for  that  there  was  no 
time.  Thinking  of  neither  God  nor  the  devil,  he 
dragged  the  staggering  girl  after  him,  for  sparks 
w^re  already  flying  over  their  heads. 

They  escaped  from  the  flames  but  not  from  danger. 
For  days  they  wandered  about  without  rest,  without 
plan.  Hunger  by  day  and  cold  by  night  were  their 
companions.  Erlefried  now  recognised  in  this  girl 
nothing  but  a  sick,   miserable  creature  whom  he 


404  The  God  Seeker 

could  not  desert.  But  where  should  he  take  her  ? 
He  dared  not  show  himself  in  Trawies,  and  he  also 
knew  that  he  would  find  no  succour  there.  Should 
he  return  to  Bart's  house  ?  Bart  and  Sela  would 
ask  him  where  he  had  found  his  companion.  Could 
he  trust  himself  to  reply  ?  Would  it  not  stand 
written  on  his  forehead,  as  it  was  written  in  blood 
upon  the  stone  in  the  wilderness,  to  what  depths  he 
had  fallen  ?  He  could  not  look  his  beloved  in  the 
eye,  he  could  not  re-enter  his  foster-father's  house. 
Should  he  go  on  wandering  through  the  forest, 
nourishing  his  companion  and  himself  with  wild 
fruits  ?  The  forest  was  burning  and  every  living 
thing  was  fleeing  from  it.  Should  he  cross  the  ring 
of  flame  at  the  boundary  and  thenceforth  lead  a 
beggar's  life  ?  This  seemed  to  be  the  only  course 
left  him,  yet  he  could  not  desert  this  girl  who  had 
fallen  into  his  hands  in  such  a  remarkable  way. 
That  she  was  a  heavy  burden,  he  did  not  deny. 

One  day  she  asked  Erlefried  who  he  was. 
My  name  is  Erlefried,    and    I   am   the   son   of 
Wahnfred,  the  carpenter,"  answered  the  young  man 
quickly,  pleased  to  have  her  talk. 

"The  carpenter  from  the  Gestade  ?"  she  mur- 
mured thoughtfully;  "  why,  he  is  the  man  who 
murdered  the  priest !  And  thou  art  his  son  Erie- 
fried  ?  " 

"  I  am  he." 

"Art  thou  really  he?"  She  passed  her  hand 
over  his  face  and  hands,  repeating:  "Art  thou 
really  he  ?  " 

"  Yes;  why  should  I  not  be  ? " 


The  Expiation  405 

Then  she  answered:  "I  suspected  that  I  was 
dead." 

"  What  ?  "  he  reph'ed;  "  thou  art  alive!  " 

"  Yes,  I  know;  I  live,  like  thyself,  in  the  other 
world." 

For  hours  she  was  silent  and  allowed  him  to  lead 
her.  He  was  now  convinced  that  she  had  lost  her 
mind  and  his  pity  for  her  increased. 

They  had  at  last  taken  refuge  in  a  deserted  shep- 
herd's hut,  and  the  young  man  had  gathered  black- 
berries, whortleberries,  and  other  wild  fruits  which 
he  understood  preparing  as  food. 

As  Bertha  felt  the  warmth  of  the  fire,  she  began 
to  weep.  When  he  gently  asked  her  the  cause,  she 
answered  that  she  was  thinking  of  her  mother. 

"  We  must  meet  her  soon,"  she  said,  "  for  she  has 
been  here  a  long  time.  If  thou  shouldst  see  her, 
take  me  to  her." 

After  a  while  she  asked:  **  Dost  thou  know  what 
has  become  of  thy  father  ? " 

"  He  lives  on  the  Johannesberg." 

**  He  does!  "  cried  the  girl,  straightening  herself 
erect;  **  then  it  is  he  who  killed  my  mother!  She 
used  to  live  on  the  Johannesberg.  Oh,  you  are  all 
murderers !  Erlefried,  go  away  and  leave  me  alone ! 
Am  I  then  damned  that  I  must  be  with  thee?" 

Once  while  she  was  eating,  she  suddenly  laughed 
aloud  and  said:  "  It  is  curious  that  so  many  things 
here  are  the  same  as  on  earth.  Art  thou  also  hun- 
gry ?  Dost  thou  still  wish  to  eat  and  drink  ? 
Strange,  and  thou  hast  been  dead  so  long!  " 

"  Who  told  thee  that  I  was  dead  ? " 


4o6  The  God  Seeker 

"  The  Trawiesers  said  that  robbers  had  killed 
thee  at  Bart-from-Tarn's." 

Now  at  last  he  comprehended  a  portion  of  her 
singular  words.  Gradually  the  poor  girl  opened  her 
whole  heart  to  him.  She  was  under  the  delusion 
that  she  was  in  purgatory,  and  he  was  unable  to 
dispel  the  idea. 

On  one  occasion  she  inhaled  a  deep  breath,  at  the 
same  time  feeling  in  the  air  with  her  hands,  and 
murmuring:  "  Yes,  it  seems  like  sweet  life  once 
more:  if  I  only  knew  whether  or  not  I  had  death 
before  me!  " 

Erlefried  knew.  But  he  did  not  know  whether 
she  would  be  glad  or  sorry  to  hear  the  truth.  And 
we  none  of  us  know  whether  it  is  better  to  have 
death  behind  or  before  us. 

**  Thou  must  be  young  and  handsome,"  she 
whispered  once.  "  I  should  like  to  know  if  in  this 
other  world  it  is  also  a  sin  to  love." 

**  It  would  be  sad  indeed,  if  one  could  not  love," 
remarked  the  lad,  playing  with  the  embers;  "  it  is 
neither  a  sin — nor  a  pleasure." 

"  Surely  thou  hast  had  a  sweetheart  on  earth!  " 
she  said. 

"  Child,  I  have  her  yet,"  he  replied,  "and  I  shall 
always  have  her." 

Then  she  ceased  speaking  and  wept  the  entire 
night.  It  was  nearly  morning  before  she  became 
quiet  and  Erlefried,  whose  sensations  were  of  the 
most  painful  description,  was  at  last  able  to  sleep. 

When  he  woke  the  sun  was  shining  directly  upon 
him  through  the  open  doorway.     It  was  broad  day- 


The  Expiation  407 

light,  and  how  changed  was  the  aspect  of  everything 
from  that  of  the  darkness  of  the  night !  All  anxiety 
was  gone,  all  sadness  had  disappeared. 

The  blind  girl's  couch  was  empty.  Had  she  felt 
her  way  out  and  was  she  sitting  on  the  stone  to 
forget  her  sorrow  in  the  brightness  of  the  morning  ? 
Erlefried  rose  and  left  the  hut.  But  he  did  not  find 
her.  In  the  dewy  grass  he  followed  the  tracks  of 
footsteps,  which  led  in  an  irregular  zigzag  away 
among  the  trees  and  finally  ended  at  the  edge  of  a 
steep  precipice. 

In  the  abyss  below  she  lay — upon  the  bloody 
stones. 

No  one  knew  how  the  unfortunate  Bertha  had 
come  to  her  death.  Had  she  sought  it  ?  If  so,  her 
reason  must  have  returned  to  her  that  morning,  for 
in  her  delusion  she  was  already  in  the  other  world. 
Had  she,  the  blind  girl,  fled  from  Erlefried  because 
she  hated  or  because  she — loved  him  ? 

He  longed  to  flee  as  far  as  his  feet  would  carry 
him ;  it  was  all  so  weird,  so  dismal.  When  he 
touched  her  and  found  that  she  was  stiff  and  cold, 
he  could  not  look  at  her  face  again.  Breaking  off  a 
few  fir-boughs — for  here  in  the  Birstling  the  trees 
were  still  alive — he  covered  the  body  until  nothing 
was  visible  in  the  rocky  gorge  but  a  mound  of 
green.  Then  he  collected  stones  and  rocks  as  large 
as  he  could  carry,  and  built  a  wall  about  the  mound, 
upon  which  he  heaped  more  stones.  After  he  had 
worked  three  days,  a  huge  pile  stood  there,  reaching 
far  above  his  shoulders.  This  was  poor  Bertha's 
burial.     It  was  the  best  Erlefried  could  do  for  her, 


4o8  The  God  Seeker 

for  he  had  neither  spade  nor  pickaxe  with  which  to 
dig  a  grave. 

When  all  was  finished,  as  a  sign  that  he  con- 
sidered neither  the  blind  girl  nor  himself  as  lost  he 
laid  a  wooden  cross  upon  the  pyramid,  before  which 
he  knelt  in  prayer.  Fear  had  taken  up  its  abode  in 
his  heart  since  that  night  when  he  had  seen  the 
drops  of  blood  flowing  over  the  grey  stone;  but 
the  cross  was  still  his  refuge  and  his  hope. 

Then  Erlefried  left  the  burial-place  in  the  Birstling 
forest  and  never  returned  to  it.  The  youngest  trees 
which  were  then  sprouting  there  are  to-day  old, 
mouldering  trunks,  but  under  the  cliff  may  still  be 
seen  a  mound  of  stones,  overgrown  with  grass  and 
vines,  beneath  which  lies  buried  the  most  unfortu- 
nate and  the  most  innocent  sacrifice  of  ruined 
Trawies. 


CHAPTER  V 

ERLEFRIED  continued  his  wandering  through 
the  forest.  He  had  at  last  passed  the  burned 
district,  and  the  people  whom  he  met  told  him  with 
frightened  faces  that  the  condition  of  Trawies  was 
more  hopeless  than  ever.  And  for  the  first  time  he 
heard  of  the  pestilence. 

He  asked  if  the  disease  had  reached  the  mountain 
and  the  house  of  Bart-from-Tarn. 

Bart's  house  stood  empty,  was  the  reply,  and  the 
inhabitants  had  fled. 

Thus  the  last  bond  was  broken.  Erlefried  sprang 
over  the  boundary  line,  so  long  known  as  the  ring 
of  fire,  walked  calmly  past  the  gallows  which  stood 
before  the  entrance  to  the  various  villages  and 
castles,  stopping  at  several  houses  to  inquire  the 
way  and  to  seek  for  information  concerning  Trawies, 
whither,  according  to  his  statement,  he  was  now 
bound. 

What  did  he  want  in  Trawies  ?  they  asked. 

In  reply,  he  related  that  he  was  a  native  of  the 
place,  but  that  when  very  young  he  had  been  taken 
by  a  cousin  of  his,  a  priest,  to  Neukloster,  where  he 
had  lived  as  lay-brother.  He  had  recently  heard 
much   that   made  him  grieve  for  his  unfortunate 

409 


4i<^  The  God  Seeker 

native  village  —  although  he  could  hardly  believe 
that  the  Trawiesers  had  become  so  inhuman  as  re- 
ported— and  it  was  his  intention  to  go  there  to 
investigate  matters,  and  he  hoped  to  be  the  means 
of  saving  what  Was  still  to  be  saved. 

Everyone  counselled  him  against  such  an  under- 
taking. Trawies  was  a  nest  of  robbers  and  mur- 
derers, and  the  only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  see 
that  none  of  the  inhabitants  escaped  and  to  allow 
things  to  take  their  course  until  the  rabble  had  at 
last  destroyed  themselves.  And  perhaps  a  still 
greater  Power  would  annihilate  this  godless  people 
sooner  than  was  expected. 

With  apparent  reluctance  the  clever  young  man 
gave  up  his  plan  for  pressing  on  to  Trawies,  and 
although  feigning  to  go  in  that  direction,  in  reality 
he  advanced  into  the  country  outside,  the  danger 
of  his  being  recognised  as  a  Trawieser  diminishing 
with  each  day. 

At  last  he  reached  the  plains,  and  the  mountains 
of  his  forest-land  had  become  only  distant  blue 
peaks.  On  a  large  dairy-farm  he  found  a  situation 
to  work,  and  here  he  passed  the  winter,  leading  a 
regular,  industrious  life. 

How  often  he  thought  of  Sela!  He  sometimes 
wondered  if  others  had  the  same  experience  as  him- 
self, for  only  when  his  sorrow  was  banished  from  his 
heart,  when  he  felt  content  and  happy,  could  he 
think  with  passionate  longing  of  the  girl  he  loved. 
Whenever  he  thought  of  his  compact  at  the  Devil's 
Stone,  Sela's  picture  was  blotted  from  his  memory. 

The  master  was  well  pleased  with  the  active,  in- 


The  Expiation  41 1 

dustrious  young  man,  but  the  latter  was  not  pleased 
with  himself.  There  was  a  feeling  of  unrest  within 
him  as  if  the  devil  had  really  taken  up  his  abode  in 
his  heart.  Not  until  the  preceding  autumn  had  he 
felt  that  God  was  lost — for  Trawies,  or  for  himself. 
All  his  evil  passions  were  aroused ;  he  no  longer 
sought  to  control  them,  for  he  knew  to  whom  he 
had  sold  himself.  During  the  day  he  would  be 
filled  with  terror,  and  at  night  he  would  often  start 
suddenly  from  his  sleep,  as  if  a  cold  hand  had  been 
laid  upon  his  breast. 

The  sweet  dreams  of  his  childhood  at  the  Gestade, 
of  his  merry  games,  wherein  he  had  discovered  a 
new  world  of  his  own,  of  his  mother,  who  had 
guided  him  like  an  angel,  of  his  father,  in  whose  re- 
ligious talks  he  had  seen  the  heavens  open  and  God 
enthroned  in  His  majesty — these  dreams  which  had' 
formerly  visited  him  every  night,  bringing  back  to 
the  banished  son  of  a  banished  father  a  memory  of 
that  golden  time,  had  not  come  to  him  since  that 
day,  when,  in  the  intoxication  of  passion,  he  had 
written  his  name  upon  the  grey  stone.  The  past 
was  for  him  a  lost  paradise.  Quite  a  different  com- 
panion now  appeared  at  his  bedside.  It  was  old 
Roderich  with  his  piercing  eyes.  Instead  of  hands 
he  had  claws  with  which  he  was  raking  burning 
coals  over  a  grey  stone,  from  out  which  trickled 
drops  of  blood.  Then  with  a  grin  the  old  man 
would  whisper  evil  words  in  his  ear  and  would  scat- 
ter sparks  upon  his  limbs,  until  the  sleeper  shud- 
dered and  awoke. 

One  day  as  he  was  lying  face  downwards  upon 


412  The  God  Seeker 

the  summit  of  a  mountain  he  heard  a  loud  voice 
crying:  "  Do  what  thou  wilt,  thou  art  mine!  " 

The  people  with  whom  he  lived  all  liked  the 
quiet,  handsome,  agreeable  young  man;  but  there 
were  two  children  in  the  family  who  avoided  him 
and  were  afraid  of  him.  They  realised  that  his 
cheerfulness  was  feigned,  that  his  games  with  them 
were  without  heart.  They  would  frequently  notice 
him  staring  absently  into  space  or  he  would  burst 
into  a  harsh  laugh,  or  suddenly  turn  pale — he  was 
too  unnatural  for  them. 

When  the  household  were  praying  aloud  at  table 
or  in  the  evening,  their  voices  harmonising  like  the 
sound  of  bells,  his  voice  was  muffled  or  overloud 
and  his  fingers  twitched  convulsively.  Every  time 
he  left  the  church  he  was  more  melancholy  than 
when  he  entered  it.  At  first  the  sound  of  the  bell 
and  the  tones  of  the  organ  and  the  soft  glimmer  of 
candles  amid  the  rising  incense  comforted  him 
greatly.  He  felt  as  though  newly  born  and  newly 
baptised.  But  when  he  knelt  before  the  holy  altar 
and  the  priest  laid  the  sacred  wafer  upon  his  tongue, 
everything  grew  black  before  his  eyes,  he  covered 
his  face  with  his  hands,  and,  staggering  back,  mur- 
mured:  "  Now  I  have  tasted  death!  " 

On  Easter  Sunday  he  listened  to  a  sermon  on  the 
dead  and  buried  Saviour.  "  Ye  wicked  men  who 
have  killed  and  buried  Him  with  your  sins,  ye  leave 
the  holy  sepulchre  to  return  to  your  worldly  pleas- 
ures. But  ye  shall  wander  without  happiness 
amongst  the  pleasures  of  the  earth,  ye  shall  hunger 
and  thirst  and  not  be  satisfied,  ye  shall  consume 


The  Expiatiofl  413 

yourselves,  ye  shall  be  lost  and  damned!  Happy 
they  who  return  to  the  quiet  grave  of  their  Saviour 
before  it  is  too  late.  Their  tears  of  repentance 
shall  fall  melodiously  upon  the  rocky  sepulchre  and 
waken  the  Holiest,  Who  will  rise  and  bestow  His 
love  and  mercy  upon  the  children  of  this  earth. 
Therefore,  thou  poor,  godless,  lost  sinner,  to-day, 
on  this  glorious  day  of  victory,  turn  in  thy  path, 
come  back  and  seek  thy  God  where  thou  hast  lost 
Him." 

These  words  of  the  preacher  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion upon  the  mind  of  the  dreamy  youth  and  he 
determined  to  return  to  Trawies.  He  felt  that  he, 
too,  had  a  share  in  the  sins  of  his  native  parish  and 
that  he  was  a  faithless  wretch  to  flee  cowardly  from 
his  penance.  Still  dominated  by  the  idea  that  he 
belonged  to  the  evil  one,  he  now  resolved  to  struggle 
to  escape  from  him  and  to  erase  the  name  which  he 
had  written  upon  the  Devil's  Stone. 

And,  besides,  this  child  of  the  mountains  was 
seized  with  homesickness,  that  demoniacal  power 
which  has  drawn  others  from  better  regions  back  to 
the  sorrows  and  miseries  of  home.  At  last  a  long- 
ing for  Bart's  house  in  the  Tarn  and  its  inhabitants, 
a  longing  for  Sela,  his  dear  deserted  Sela,  overcame 
him.  She  must  pardon  him,  she  was  his  angel;  in 
her  arms  would  he  take  refuge. 

Erlefried  then  went  to  his  master  and  said:  **  I 
thank  you  for  the  kindness  which  has  been  shown 
me  in  your  house.     Now  I  must  go  away." 

"  I  understand,"  answered  the  peasant;  "  but 
you  will  stay  with  me  until  the  wedding." 


4H  The  God  Seeker 

"  Until  what  wedding  ?  " 

"  So  you  do  not  acknowledge  it  even  yet  ?  I 
should  have  been  pleased,  Erlefried,  had  you  con- 
sidered me  worthy  of  your  confidence,  instead  of 
obliging  me  to  learn  of  your  affairs  from  others. 
That  is  the  way  with  you  young  people,  you  think 
you  are  keeping  a  secret  when  the  whole  valley 
knows  it.  Mein  Gott!  you  have  done  well  to  get 
ahead  of  all  the  rest,  you  have  done  well  !  That  is 
probably  because  you  were  educated  in  a  monas- 
tery. Donnerwetter !  young  man,  why  do  you 
stand  there  like  that  ?  Well,  I  wish  you  happi- 
ness; you  are  young,  you  are  good,  quite  good 
enough  for  her." 

Erlefried  understood  at  last,  although  it  was  with 
some  difificulty  that  he  comprehended  what  lay  be- 
hind it  all.  Neighbour  Erhart  had  a  daughter, 
called  Beautiful  Trull,  the  peasant's  only  child  and 
of  marriageable  age.  But  she  was  proud !  She  be- 
longed to  the  class  of  women  who  will  go  to  great 
lengths  to  break  a  man's  heart.  She  understood 
attracting  them  and  then  she  would  suddenly  de- 
luge them  with  her  scorn,  which  was  like  an  ice-cold 
waterfall.  When  at  last  no  more  victims  fell  into 
her  snares,  she  declared  there  were  no  men  in  this 
region  who  pleased  her.  Since  Erlefried's  arrival 
she  had  ceased  to  say  this.  She  had  followed  him 
in  such  a  marked  manner  that  everybody  was  notic- 
ing it,  with  one  exception :  Erlefried  himself. 

And  when  it  was  told  him  in  so  many  words  that 
Beautiful  Trull  loved  him  and  wished  to  marry  him, 
a  strange  joy  filled  his  heart  and,  hardly  aware  of 


The  Expiation  4^5 

what  he  was  doing,  he  hastened  to  Erhart's  house 
and  asked  to  see  Trull. 

Erhart  was  an  elderly  man  and  he  received  Erie- 
fried  warmly.  He  could  not  say  enough  to  show 
how  glad  he  was  that  the  young  man  from  his 
neighbour's,  of  whom  he  had  heard  so  much  good, 
had  at  last  found  the  way  to  his  house.  Oh,  it  was 
Trull  he  wished  to  see;  she  would  be  most  happy, 
she  was  in  the  next  room,  he  might  go  in  at  once. 
Trull  was  no  longer  of  that  age  when  young  girls 
blush  unconsciously  whenever  a  young  man  enters. 
She  blushed  consciously,  but  none  the  less  becom- 
ingly. She  also  cast  down  her  eyes — and  she  was 
beautiful  indeed.  If  Erlefried  had  really  been  pos- 
sessed of  the  devil,  he  would  have  been  unable  to 
carry  out  the  idea  with  which  he  entered  the  room. 
But,  remembering  his  previous  resolve  just  in  time, 
he  said:  "A  report  is  being  circulated  among  the 
people,  my  dear  Jungfrau  Trull,  and  if  it  should  be 
true  that  you  care  for  me,  I  must  indeed  be  very 
happy.  And  I  have  to  thank  you,  my  most  worthy 
and  beautiful  Jungfrau,  for  your  favour  and  for  hold- 
ing such  a  4nan  as  myself,  who  has  nothing  good 
about  him,  worthy  of  notice.  And  especially  such 
a  man  as  myself  must  feel  a  deep  gratitude  and  I  do 
not  know  how  to  thank  you.  However,  I  can  offer 
you  nothing  better  than  an  honest  answer.  I  wish 
I  might  be  the  right  one  for  you  and  thus  pay  my 
indebtedness — but  my  heart  is  no  longer  my  own." 

The  last  words  were  spoken  sorrowfully,  and  one 
could  not  tell  whether  he  was  thinking  of  Sela  or  of 
the  grey  stone  in  the  Tarn, 


41 6  The  God  Seeker 

Beautiful  Trull  rose  quickly  and  said:  "  What  is 
that  to  me  ?  You  are  only  a  stranger  and  have  no 
right  to  speak  thus  to  me.  I  will  call  my  father  if 
you  do  not  leave  me  instantly !  " 

Old  Erhart  did  not  know  what  to  think  when  he 
saw  Erlefried  taking  a  silent  leave.  And  beautiful 
Trull!  The  chronicler  has  failed  to  describe  her 
sufferings. 


CHAPTER  VI 

SO  Erlefried  set  out  on  his  journey.  For  a  while 
he  was  tormented  by  the  thought  that  he  had 
thrown  away  a  chance  for  a  prosperous  future  in 
this  flat,  sunny,  fertile  land,  and  he  knew  that  he 
was  returning  to  a  life  of  sorrow  and  suffering.  He 
went,  nevertheless;  feeling  drawn  thither,  he  hast- 
ened faster  and  faster  towards  his  unhappy  home. 
He  no  longer  asked  advice  concerning  the  way. 
Trembling  inwardly  he  learned  of  the  terrible  black 
death  at  Trawies,  but  he  went  steadily  forward. 
Sadly  and  scornfully  the  streams  flowed  out  to  meet 
him  from  the  mountains ;  the  peaks  were  still  gleam- 
ing with  their  snowy  caps,  and  over  all  stretched  the 
endless  blue,  broken  here  and  there  by  light,  fleecy 
clouds.  Above  the  wanderer's  head  the  swallows 
were  flying  homeward,  like  himself,  towards  the 
wooded  hills. 

Yonder  in  the  distance  was  a  broad  plain,  where 
no  tree  was  standing;  only  here  and  there  a  charred 
trunk  towered  aloft  in  a  manner  ghastly  to  behold. 
This  was  the  Tarn.  Even  the  cross  that  had  stood 
upon  the  lonely  heights  long  after  the  destruction 
of  the  forest  had  succumbed  to  the  storms  of  the 
preceding  winter,  which  had  thrown  it  upon  the 

"  417 


41 8  The  God  Seeker 

ground — this  last  relic  of  the  Christian  parish  that 
had  once  led  a  peaceful  life  among  these  mountains. 
Erlefried  wandered  many  days  and  nights ;  the  days 
were  beautiful,  for  it  was  the  month  of  May ;  the 
nights  were  dark,  for  it  was  nearing  the  time  for  a 
new  moon. 

When  he  reached  the  boundary,  he  stopped  and 
gave  one  last  look  out  at  the  wide  world ;  he  still 
belonged  to  it,  was  still  free.  He  felt  like  a  suicide 
standing  at  the  brink  of  a  precipice ;  he  looked  once 
more  at  the  sunlight;  once  more  he  cried:  "  I  can 
do  nothing  else!  "  and  he  made  the  plunge. 

When  he  had  leapt  over  the  boundary  line  of  Tra- 
wies,  a  cry  burst  from  his  lips,  but  it  was  a  cry  of 
joy.  He  stamped  with  his  foot  upon  the  ground — 
this  was  good,  firm  earth!  His  blood  flowed  more 
freely  in  his  veins.  That  anxious  feeling  of  being 
lost  had  gone;  here  the  evil  one  would  no  longer  be 
slyly  watching  for  him  and  surprising  him  in  his 
sleep ;  here  in  the  abiding-place  of  the  devil,  Erie- 
fried  might  boldly  walk  up  and  meet  him,  and  that 
would  be  far  better.  There  was  a  chance  for  peace 
now,  for  Corpus  Christi  would  not  be  celebrated  in 
Trawies  for  some  time  yet !  And  should  it  never  be 
celebrated,  was  not  Wahnfred  striking  out  in  new 
paths  to  lead  Trawies  to  heaven  ?  And  could  not 
his  son  Erlefried  do  the  same  ?  He  would  join  his 
father,  and  the  new  way  to  God  should  no  longer 
lead  past  Good  Friday  and  All  Souls'  Day. 

Erlefried  now  descended  from  the  mountain- 
ridge  called  Scharfeck  towards  the  narrow  valley 
of  Trawies,     At   his   right  towered   the   Birstling, 


The  Expiation  419 

clothed  with  its  dark  pine-forests  and  luxuriant 
growth  of  hazel,  and  at  his  left  stretched  the  grey, 
mouldering  plain  of  the  Tarn. 

In  the  narrow  pass  where  the  Diirbach  gushed  a 
group  of  men  were  working.  Men  working  in  Tra- 
wies!  That  was  a  good  sign.  They  were  clearing 
away  an  old,  disused  road.  They  pushed  the  larger 
stones  to  one  side,  the  small  ones  they  crushed  with 
iron  mallets,  then,  after  scattering  earth  over  them, 
they  covered  all  with  moss  and  turf.  They  toiled 
industriously,  and  at  a  little  distance  away  where 
the  narrow  gorge  ended  and  the  precipice  rose 
abruptly  they  were  building  a  table  out  of  stones. 

One  of  the  men  had  stolen  into  the  woods  and 
stretched  himself  upon  his  back  in  the  shade.  Erie- 
fried  approached  him.  The  idle  man  rose  at  once, 
but  Erlefried  told  him  not  to  disturb  himself,  he 
only  wished  to  inquire  what  they  meant  by  building 
such  a  good  road  in  this  wild  gorge. 

"  You  do  not  live  here  ? "  asked  the  man. 

"  I  come  from  outside." 

"You  do,  do  you?  Then  I  suppose  you  really 
ought  to  be  killed.  If  any  of  us  should  go  away 
that  would  happen.  But  of  late  we  have  had  deaths 
enough.  It  is  no  longer  any  laughing  matter.  I 
should  like  something  to  eat  if  you  've  got  any- 
thing with  you,  and  I  'd  advise  you  to  give  it  of  your 
own  accord !  * ' 

Erlefried  shared  with  him  the  bread  which  he  had 
in  his  bag. 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  man,  swallowing  the  bits  whole, 
"  if  we  could  only  have  such  bread  as  this  again!  " 


420  The  God  Seeker 

If  you  work  as  I  see  you  are  now  doing,  you 
are  on  the  right  road  to  it,"  answered  Erlefried. 

Ha,  ha!  "  laughed  the  other;  "  from  him  who 
gives  us  the  work  I  do  not  hope  much.  Do  you 
know,  unknown  prince,  for  whom  we  are  making 
this  road  ?  You  cannot  guess  ?  Think  as  hard  as 
you  will,  but  it  would  not  be  worth  your  trouble. 
The  most  absurd  thing  about  it  all  is  that  the 
one  for  whom  we  are  making  it  will  never  walk 
here." 

"  Will  he  be  driven?" 

lie  's  a  very  lazy  gentleman  and  has  to  be  car- 
ried !  And  he  eats,  eats  all  the  time,  never  stops  eat- 
iiig.  He  could  not  live  for  one  second,  I  tell  you, 
if  he  were  not  constantly  fed." 

"  What  kind  of  a  strange  animal  can  that  be  ? " 

"It  is  no  animal,  young  man;  when  you  know 
him  you  will  have  respect  for  him.  I  will  tell  you : 
it  is  the  new  God.  Yes,  child,  it  is  the  new,  the 
fiery  Lord  God.  He  has  been  given  to  us  only 
lately.  Well,  one  really  does  not  know  whether  to 
laugh  or  to  cry  over  it." 

Erlefried  had  already  heard  that  the  people  of 
Trawies  had  become  fire-worshippers.  At  first  he 
was  horrified  at  the  news,  but,  on  reflecting,  he  had 
thought :  "  Why  not  then  ?  If  we  must  have  a  visi- 
ble symbol,  one  is  as  good  as  another.  Yes,  one 
may  be  better  than  another.  Water  would  have 
answered  also." 

"  The  old  faith  proved  worthless,"  remarked  the 
man;  "  the  fire  that  used  to  be  in  hell  we  put  into 
heaven  now.      It  is  much  better  so.      We  will  make 


The  Expiation  421 

our  hell  as  we  need  it ;  no  one  likes  to  be  burned. 
He  's  quite  right,  our  carpenter,  and  soon,  I  hope, 
he  will  break  off  the  devil's  horns  also,  so  that  he 
cannot  run  them  into  us." 

"  I  should  not  mind  if  he  did,"  thought  Erie- 
fried,  "  but  from  present  appearances  the  devil  will 
have  no  power  over  me  for  some  time  to  come." 

"  You  have  eaten  my  bread,"  he  said,  "  but  you 
have  not  yet  told  me  how  your  new  God  is  going  to 
use  this  road." 

"  Can  you  not  guess  ?  "  cried  the  man.  "  Con- 
sidering that  you  come  from  outside,  you  do  not 
seem  to  me  very  pious.  Do  you  not  celebrate 
Corpus  Christi  to-morrow  ?  I  think  you  do,  and  we 
in  here  celebrate  it  also.  That  is  why  we  must  have 
a  God,  that  we  may  go  on  keeping  our  holidays  and 
festivals.  But  we  do  it  at  night,  for  our  God  is  not 
bright  enough  by  day.  We  are  to  hold  our  festival 
to-night.  This  year  it  falls  very  fortunately,  for 
Corpus  Christi  eve  will  be  as  black  as  coal,  with  no 
moonlight.  A  processional  is  customary,  so  we  shall 
carry  our  new  God  through  the  mountain  gorges 
and  set  him  up  on  the  stone  table, — the  lazy  rascals 
have  n't  finished  it  yet, — and  there  we  shall  set  fire 
to  him,  until  he  burns  like  the  devil.  The  women 
will  chant  and  it  will  all  be  most  interesting.  You 
will  come,  of  course  ?  " 

Poor  Erlefried! — new  moon  on  Corpus  Christi,  in 
Trawies,  and  this  very  night! 

"  No!"  he  cried;  "  that  is  a  pagan  custom,  that 
must  not  be  !  " 

The    man    looked    at  the  excited  youth    with    a 


42  2  The  God  Seeker 

twinkle  in  his  eye  and  murmured:  "  Oh,  you  little 
scrap  of  humanity,  what  would  you  have  us  do  ? " 

"  I  am  lost!"  cried  Erlefried,  throwing  himself 
upon  the  ground.  Before  his  soul  stood  the  horrible 
vision  which  in  that  dark  age  was  so  superstitiously 
nurtured  in  mankind.  He  writhed  upon  the  ground 
and  groaned  until  even  the  lazy  workman  was 
startled. 

' '  What  has  happened  to  you  all  of  a  sudden  ?  "  he 
asked ;  "  one  would  almost  think  you  had  the  pest !  " 

"  The  pest!"  said  Erlefried.  "  Good  man,  if  it 
were  only  that,  how  thankful  I  should  be  to  my 
God!" 

"  6>  Jesu  Christ  /     Can  it  be  worse  than  that  ? " 

"  It  is  the  eternal  pest,  the  hellish  pest!  Let  me 
go,  let  me  go,  you  cannot  help  me." 

But  the  other  held  him  fast  by  the  arm,  mutter- 
ing between  his  teeth:  "  I  will  not  let  you  go  until 
you  have  told  me  the  meaning  of  all  this." 

"  Well,  I  will  tell  you,"  said  Erlefried,  wiping 
the  drops  from  his  forehead  with  his  coat-sleeve; 
"  it  is  no  secret,  and  it  is  connected  with  your  fes- 
tival.    To-night  the  devil  will  take  me." 

The  other  laughed  aloud,  considering  the  words 
merely  as  a  common  phrase.  But  Erlefried  soon  ex- 
plained. He  told  his  curious  and  sympathetic  list- 
ener how  he  had  written  his  name  with  blood  upon 
the  Devil's  Stone,  how  he  had  received  frequent 
nightly  visits  from  the  evil  one,  and  how  he  had 
sworn  by  the  grey  stone  that  whenever  a  new  moon 
and  Corpus  Christi  fell  upon  the  same  day  in 
Trawies  the  devil  might  have  him  for  his  own. 


The  Expiation  423 

The  other  folded  his  hands  across  his  knees  and 
said  with  a  shake  of  the  head:  "  That  is  bad,  very 
bad!" 

"Do  you  suppose,"  continued  Erlefried,  "  that 
the  people  of  Trawies  on  my  account  and  for  broth- 
erly love  would  give  up  their  procession  ?  " 

At  this  the  man  shouted  with  laughter,  saying: 
"  One  can  see  very  plainly  where  you  come  from. 
If  the  people  find  out  that  there  is  to  be  an  extra 
show,  they  will  be  all  the  more  determined  to  have 
their  procession.  A  thing  like  that  would  make  it 
all  the  merrier." 

"You  cannot  advise  me,  then,  what  to  do?" 
asked  the  young  man,  turning  away. 

"  Not  very  well,  but  I  will  think  it  over " 

**  Leave  off  your  thinking,"  said  Erlefried  excit- 
edly; "  you  have  nothing  further  to  do  with  it." 

"  That  you  are  not  in  a  very  good  temper,  young 
man,  I  can  well  believe,  but  you  must  not  slight  the 
words  of  a  friend.  And  since  I  know  that  the  devil 
is  going  to  take  you,  I  am  your  friend.  We  two  ly- 
ing here  under  the  hazel-bushes,  we  ought  to  be  able 
to  outwit  the  devil.  Surely,  one  so  young  as  you 
should  have  a  few  drops  of  superfluous  blood." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Erlefried,  with  a 
gesture  of  despair. 

"I  know  of  a  remedy.  You  say  you  wrote  your 
name  on  the  Devil's  Stone  with  blood  ?  I  don't  ask 
why  that  troubles  you  now,  but  I  know  that  if  the 
signature  is  to  be  made  null  and  void,  it  must  be 
washed  out  with  blood." 

"  Can  that  be  true  ?  "  asked  Erlefried  anxiously. 


424  The  God  Seeker 

"  I  have  heard  it  a  hundred  times,  and  it  is  also 
thus  in  the  story  of  the  robber  chief.  He  is  said  to 
have  had  a  box  full  of  knives,  with  each  one  of 
which  he  had  killed  a  man.  When  the  day  arrived 
for  the  devil  to  take  him,  he  took  one  knife  after 
the  other  and  with  each  cut  off  a  piece  of  his  own 
body  until  at  last  he  fell  dead.  In  this  same  mo- 
ment a  white  dove  flew  out  of  his  heart  up  towards 
heaven,  leaving  the  devil  nothing  but  the  empty 
body.  You,  my  young  gentleman,  do  not  look  as  if 
you  had  sent  many  people  out  of  the  world, — rather 
the  contrary, — so  you  '11  not  need  to  cut  off  much 
flesh  to  pay  your  debt.  Take  off  one  finger,  that 
will  be  enough." 

"  I  know  what  I  will  do,"  said  Erlefried,  rising 
and  walking  away. 

Thoughts  were  formed  rapidly  in  this  fantastic 
brain.  To  save  his  soul  was  to  him  of  the  greatest 
importance.  Even  if  this  world  were  lost,  he  would 
at  least  find  his  Sela  in  the  next.  Here  below  he 
must  never  see  her  again.  Self-redemption  from 
the  bonds  of  sin !  That  was  now  his  creed,  his  way 
to  heaven.  He  hastened  through  the  forest,  he 
hastened  up  the  barren  mountain,  he  hastened  to 
the  stone  where  he  had  written  his  name. 

He  would  erase  it  with  his  own  blood. 


CHAPTER  VII 

IN  an  isolated  part  of  the  forest  still  lies  the  Devil's 
Stone.  It  resembles  a  little  hut,  with  its  rounded 
corners  and  weather-beaten  top.  It  could  not  have 
grown  out  of  the  ground,  or  have  been  laid  bare  by 
the  gradual  disappearance  of  the  earth,  as  is  so  often 
said  of  stones.  It  seemed  rather  to  be  growing  into 
the  ground,  as  if,  according  to  a  saying  of  the 
people,  "  It  should,  for  very  shame,  sink  nine 
fathoms  deep." 

And  there  may  be  good  reason  for  this  saying, 
for  it  accords  with  the  repute  in  which  the  stone  is 
held.  In  the  Alps  one  frequently  meets  with  the 
legend  that  the  devil,  whose  wings  were  too  short 
to  fly  up  to  heaven,  attempted  to  build  a  ladder 
from  the  earth  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  that  he 
might  take  possession  of  the  latter.  In  this  region 
the  following  version  of  the  legend  is  extant: 
Upon  the  summit  of  the  Trasank  the  Prince  of 
Darkness  collected  his  building  material  from  far 
and  wide,  but  when  his  ladder  reached  the  sky,  he 
found  it  so  securely  arched,  and  the  sun  and  stars  so 
dazzling,  that  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  under- 
taking. Angered  by  his  failure,  he  struck  a  tremen- 
dous blow  with  his  fist  upon  the  ladder,  sending  the 

425 


426  The  God  Seeker 

bits  flying  in  all  directions.  One  of  the  stones  fell 
into  the  Trawies  woods  and  was  thenceforth  called 
the"  Devil's  Stone." 

For  centuries  it  had  been  covered  with  moss,  but 
at  the  time  of  the  ban  this  had  been  scraped  off  and 
the  plant  life  in  the  grooves  destroyed  until  the  sur- 
face was  smooth.  Soon  innumerable  strange  signs 
and  words,  written  in  a  dark  red  colour,  appeared 
upon  it,  traces  of  which  may  be  seen  to  this  day. 

And  it  was  to  this  stone  that  Erlefried  was  now 
hastening,  as  he  had  done  just  one  year  before. 

In  the  forest,  twilight  was  already  falling  and 
soft,  misty  clouds  floated  in  the  sky.  A  still, 
solemn  atmosphere  lay  over  all,  and  not  a  breath  of 
wind  stirred  the  leaves  in  the  trees. 

Erlefried  was  leaning  against  an  old,  fissured  tree- 
trunk,  gazing  out  into  the  distance.  He  saw  the 
peak  of  the  Johannesberg,  at  the  foot  of  which  lay 
his  dear  Gestade.  He  saw  the  cliffs  of  the  Trasank, 
where  when  a  boy  he  had  climbed  nimbly  and  gaily 
as  a  chamois.  In  that  narrow  basin  lay  little  Tra- 
wies, where  he  had  once  listened  to  the  holy  Word 
of  God  and  to  the  sound  of  bells  and  to  the  tones  of 
the  organ.  All  gone !  Yonder  he  saw  the  heights 
where  Bart's  house  stood,  and  in  the  foreground 
towered  the  bare  peak,  formerly  surmounted  by 
the  cross,  whither  he  and  Sela  had  made  their  pil- 
grimage in  the  preceding  autumn, 

"  Oh  could  I  but  have  my  life  once  more,  my  be- 
loved life !  "  he  sobbed,  covering  his  face.  "  I  would 
willingly  bear  again  all  the  suffering  from  the  Ges- 
tade, where  I  lived  as  a  child,  up  to  the  cross  in  the 


The  Expiation  427 

Tarn.  I  would  bear  it  all  again,  I  have  been  so 
happy.  O  my  Eternal  God,  let  me  but  begin  my 
life  anew!  The  second  time  I  will  find  the  right 
way.  Below  they  are  assembling  to  worship  Thee 
in  the  fire.  If  Thou  art  that  fire  which  consumed 
the  miraculous  bird,  that  rose  from  the  ashes  as 
Phoenix,  in  all  the  renewed  glory  of  its  youth,  then 
I  will  pray  with  them !  I  have  no  desire  to  become 
dust.  O  most  Holy  God,  I  would  not  yet  enter 
the  unknown  land;  I  long  to  live!" 

There  was  no  answer  and  the  evening  shadows 
were  fast  closing  about  him. 

Erlefried  braced  himself  for  the  effort,  saying: 
"  There  is  no  turning  back  and  no  choice;  it  must 
be!" 

He  took  a  few  steps  forward  and  stood  before  the 
stone. 

He  started.  A  human  form  was  sitting  upon  it. 
It  was  a  man  with  flaxen  hair  which  fell  in  long 
locks  from  under  a  white  woollen  cap.  His  face 
was  narrow  and  his  features  sharp.  His  lips  were 
pursed  as  though  he  were  smiling  to  himself,  and  his 
bare  feet — his  linen  trousers  were  rolled  up  to  his 
knees — were  dangling  over  the  stone.  His  appear- 
ance indicated  that  he  was  a  shepherd. 

Erlefried  stepped  behind  a  tree  waiting  for  him  to 
go  away.  But  he  remained  sitting,  humming  one 
song  after  another  and  swaying  his  feet  to  and  fro. 

The  fateful  night  was  drawing  near  and  all  was 
dark.  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  and  how  often 
had  Erlefried  heard  that  the  devil  was  always 
prompt.     What  if  it  should  be  he  sitting  yonder  on 


428  The  God  Seeker 

the  stone  waiting  for  him !     He  was  known  to  fre- 
quently take  the  guise  of  hunters  and  shepherds. 
The  man  then  began  humming : 

"  Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee," 

"  Dearest  friend,  what  ask'st  thou  me  ? " 

"  Tell  me,  what  is  one  ?  " 

"  One  and  one  is  God  alone, 

Who  rules  above  and  works  below. 

In  heaven  and  on  the  earth." 

Erlefried  breathed  more  freely.  That  was  not 
the  devil.  He  walked  over  to  the  shepherd  and 
said:  "  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 

"  I  am  singing  my  evening  prayer,"  and  he  con- 
tinued : 

"  Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 

"  Dearest  friend,  what  ask'st  thou  me  ?  " 

"  Tell  me,  what  is  two  ?  " 

"  Two  tables  of  Moses, 
One  and  one  is  God  alone. 
Who  rules  above  and  works  below, 
In  heaven  and  on  the  earth." 

"  You  cannot  be  one  of  the  fire- worshippers,  for 
you  are  still  singing  that  old  hymn,"  said  Erlefried. 

"  Oh  yes,  oh  yes,"  answered  the  shepherd.  "  I 
take  everything  as  it  comes,  believing  a  double  faith 
to  be  better  than  a  single  one.  But  there  should 
be  two  for  this  song.     Can  you  help  me  ? " 

Erlefried  had  learned  it  from  his  mother,  and  it 
reminded  him  of  home.  She  had  told  him  that  this 
hymn  was  so  sacred  that  the  stars  stood  still  and 


The  Expiation 


429 


The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 
Both  together 


gleamed  like  altar  candles  in  the  sky  when  it  was 
sung  upon  the  earth. 

So  in  this  dark  hour  nothing  could  have  been 
more  welcome  to  the  young  man  than  this  song. 

'  *  Begin , "  said  he,  "  I  will  follow. ' '  The  shepherd 
continued : 

"  Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
Erlefried  replied  :     "  Dearest   friend,  what  ask'st  thou 

me  ? " 
"  Tell  me,  what  is  three  ?  " 
**  Three  patriarchs." 
"  Three   patriarchs,    two   tables   of 

Moses, 
One  and  one  is  God  alone, 
Who  rules  above  and  works  below, 
In  heaven  and  on  the  earth." 
"  Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
"  Dearest   friend,  what  ask'st  thou 

me?" 
"  Tell  me,  what  is  four  ?  " 
"  Four  evangelists." 
"  Four  evangelists,  three  patriarchs," 

etc. 
"  Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
"  Dearest  friend,  what  ask'st  thou 

me?" 
"  Tell  me,  what  is  five  ?  " 
"  Five  wounds  of  Christ." 
"  Five  wounds  of  Christ,  four  evan- 
gelists," etc. 
"  Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
"  Dearest  friend,  what  ask'st  thou 

me?" 


The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 

The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 
Both: 

The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 

The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 
Both: 

The  shepherd  : 
Erlefried  : 


436 


The  God  Seeker 


The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 
Both  : 

The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 

The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 
Both: 

The  shepherd 
Erlefried  : 

The  shepherd  ; 
Erlefried  : 
Both  : 

The  shepherd  : 
Erlefried  : 

The  shepherd  : 
Erlefried  : 
Both  : 

The  shepherd  : 
Erlefried  : 

The  shepherd  : 
Erlefried  : 
Both: 


it 
« 

it 

it 
(( 

(i 
(( 
<< 

(( 

« 
(< 
<< 

<< 

(< 

{( 
<( 


Tell  me,  what  is  six  ?  " 

Six  stone  water-pots." 

Six  stone  water-pots,  five  wounds 

of  Christ,"  etc. 
Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
Dearest    friend,  what   ask'st  thou 

me  ? " 
Tell  me,  what  is  seven  ? " 
Seven  sacraments." 
Seven  sacraments,  six  stone  water- 
pots,"  etc. 
Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
Dearest    friend,  what    ask'st  thou 

me?" 
Tell  me,  what  is  eight." 
Eight  beatitudes." 
Eight     beatitudes,     seven     sacra- 
ments," etc. 
Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
Dearest    friend,  what   ask'st  thou 

me?" 
Tell  me,  what  is  nine  ?  " 
Nine  choirs  of  angels." 
Nine     choirs     of     angels,      eight 

beatitudes,"  etc. 
Dearest  friend,  I  ask  of  thee." 
Dearest    friend,  what    ask'st  thou 

me?" 
Tell  me,  what  is  ten  ?  " 
Ten  commandments  of  God." 
Ten  commandments  of  God,  nine 
choirs   of    angels,    eight    beati- 
tudes,   seven    sacraments,    six 
Stone  water-pots,    five  wounds 


The  Expiation  431 

of  Christ,  four  evangelists,  three 
patriarchs,  two  tables  of  Moses, 
one  and  one  is  God  alone.  Who 
rules  above  and  works  below, 
in  heaven  and  on  the  earth." 

Reverently  and  solemnly  they  sang  the  quaint 
old  hymn.  A  few  stars  were  already  shining  in  the 
sky. 

"  Now,"  said  the  shepherd,  "you  will  not  need 
to  say  your  evening  prayers  later  on.  But  you  must 
be  very  pious,  for  your  eyes  were  wet  while  you 
were  singing." 

"  Good  friend,"  answered  Erlefried,  "  if  you 
knew  how  I  felt,  you  would  not  wonder  at  the  tears 
in  my  eyes.  Ask  no  questions  and  go :  you  are  in 
my  way  there." 

The  shepherd  craned  his  neck  forward,  whisper- 
ing: "Oh,  you  are  going  to  sell  yourself  to  the 
devil." 

I  am  going  to  erase  my  name,"  replied  Erie- 
fried  ;  and,  now  since  this  was  to  be  his  last  sight  of 
a  human  being,  his  heart  mounted  to  his  lips  and 
he  told  him  everything.  He  told  him  that  he  was 
the  son  of  the  priest's  murderer,  and  that  to  escape 
being  dragged  into  the  evil  life  of  the  people  of 
Trawies  he  had  pretended  to  be  dead.  And  he 
told  him  of  Sela,  his  beloved,  told  of  the  pilgrimage 
to  the  cross  in  the  Tarn,  of  his  own  evil  intentions, 
and  how  Sela  had  fled  from  him,  and  how  in  a  de- 
liiium  of  excitement  he  had  written  his  name  upon 
the  Devil's  Stone. 


432  The  God  Seeker 

And  then  he  confessed  what  was  awaiting  him  on 
this  Corpus  Christi  eve,  what  he  must  do  to  coun- 
teract it,  and  that  he  had  now  come  to  take  his  own 
life  on  this  spot. 

During  Erlefried's  confession,  the  shepherd  drew 
down  his  mouth  as  if  he  were  again  smiling  to  him- 
self. 

"A  pretty  bad  story,  that,"  he  said ;  "and  does  n't 
your  father  help  you  ?  " 

He  knows  nothing  about  it." 

"  He  is  a  holy  man,  he  could  do  something  for 
you ! 

He  has  all  he  can  do  to  help  himself,"  thought 
Erlefried.  "  I  know  but  one  way.  If  you  would 
only  do  me  a  favour,  shepherd." 

"  You  may  rely  upon  me,"  cried  the  man. 

"  I  am  Isaac  and  you  shall  be  Abraham,"  said 
Erlefried,  anxiously  casting  down  his  eyes,  as  if  he 
wished  to  take  back  the  words. 

"  I  understand,"  said  the  shepherd  ;  "  and  you 
are  hoping  that  an  angel  will  come  and  stay  my 
arm. ' ' 

"  I  wish  to  die!  "  cried  the  young  man;  "  I  must 
die,"  he  murmured  in  a  feeble  voice. 

"You  are  a  fool!"  answered  the  shepherd, 
springing  to  the  ground.  Erlefried  examined  the 
surface  of  the  stone,  his  face  pale  with  fright. 
Only  a  few  traces  of  his  name  remained.  "  There 
it  is,"  he  said,  placing  his  finger  upon  some  tiny 
brown  spots. 

' '  That  there  ?  ' '  replied  the  other.  ' '  Ah,  if  your 
name  is  no  longer  than  that,  it  is  n't  very  long." 


The  Expiation  433 

"  But  it  is  blood !  " 

"  Makes  no  difference,  good  friend;  you  only 
need  to  pour  warm  water  over  it  to  wash  it  out," 
replied  the  shepherd. 

"It  is  easy  for  you  to  make  light  of  it,"  said  the 
young  man,  with  a  sad  countenance,  "but  you  do 
not  know  how  I  feel." 

"  I  can  imagine  how  uncomfortable  it  must  be  to 
have  the  devil  after  you.  But  there  is  one  good 
remedy  for  it,  and  I  am  only  surprised  that  it  has 
not  occurred  to  you  yet." 

"  Blood,"  murmured  Erlefried. 

"  You  are  quite  right,  but  it  depends  upon  how 
you  use  it,"  said  the  shepherd,  with  an  expressive 
glance.  "  Is  it  possible  that  you  have  never  heard 
of  the  magic  circle  wherein  the  devil  has  no  power  ? 
Your  sweetheart,  of  whom  you  just  told  me,  where 
is  she  ?  " 

"  During  the  pestilence,  she  fled  with  Bart  to  the 
Ritscher,  but  I  have  heard  that  they  have  now  re- 
turned to  their  house  in  the  Tarn." 

"  There  's  no  time  to  lose,"  said  the  shepherd; 
then,  drawing  the  young  man  aside,  he  whispered  in 
his  ear,  "  In  the  arms  of  your  beloved  is  the  magic 
circle." 

Erlefried's  face  brightened  for  a  moment,  then 
grew  sad  again  and  he  shook  his  head. 

"  But  I  am  in  earnest,  my  friend,"  insisted  the 
shepherd,  and  his  eyes  were  frank  and  clear,  at  the 
same  time  full  of  mischief  and  good-nature.  "  See 
here,  I  am  wiser  than  you  think.     In  the  arms  of 

your  beloved — but  it  must  be  your  own  true  love." 

38 


434  The  God  Seeker 

"  That  art  thou,  Sela!  "  cried  Erlefried. 

"  In  her  arms  you  are  safe!  " 

Erlefried  was  as  though  rooted  to  the  ground. 
What  a  future!  And  now  it  came  back  to  him, 
what  he  had  often  read  in  old  tales:  "  In  the  arms 
of  one's  true  love  one  is  safe  from  the  torments  of 
the  devil."  This  reawakened  belief  harmonised 
quickly  with  his  feelings.  He  left  the  stone  and 
the  shepherd  and  hastened  away  even  more  rapidly 
than  he  had  come. 

He  scorned  the  winding  path  ;  he  broke  through 
underbrush,  he  ran  across  clearings  and  fields,  de- 
scending, ascending,  always  straight  on  towards 
Bart's  house.  It  would  be  possible  to  reach  it  be- 
fore midnight  and  to  fall  at  her  feet  when  the  pro- 
cession was  passing  through  the  gorge  to  the 
sacrificial  altar. 

He  would  flee  to  her  and  say:  "  Help  me,  Sela, 
fortune  has  deserted  me,  God  has  left  me!  "  And 
then  he  would  tell  her  everything.  If  she  pardoned, 
all  would  be  well,  he  felt  that  in  his  heart;  then  he 
would  be  saved,  he  knew  it  for  a  certainty! 

The  dark  sky  above  was  sown  with  twinkling 
stars ;  it  seemed  to  Erlefried  that  they  were  watch- 
ing over  him,  lighting  his  path  in  this  race  for  his 
life,  gleaming,  trembling  for  him  alone.  The 
Heavenly  Powers  well  knew  that  a  soul  was  here 
at  stake.  A  falling  star  glided  rapidly  through  the 
air,  as  though  pointing  out  his  way  to  the  house 
where  Sela  dwelt. 

As  he  was  climbing  up  the  ash-strewn  slope  of  the 
Tarn,  he  noticjjd  a  gleam  of  light  on  the  opposite 


The  Expiation  435 

cliffs  of  the  Diirbach  gorge.     And  soon  the  torches 
came  in  sight.     The  procession  had  already  started. 

Erlefried  quickened  his  pace,  his  terror  increasing 
with  every  step,  urged  on  by  the  fear  that  he  should 
not  reach  the  house  in  time.  Here  and  there  stood 
charred  tree-trunks,  some  of  which  seemed  to  be 
moving.  One  stepped  out  of  the  group  and  fol- 
lowed the  fleeing  man.  It  moved  slowly,  yet  was 
apparently  keeping  abreast  of  the  hastening  form. 

The  torch-light  procession  advanced  along  the 
mountain  gorge.  It  was  headed  by  a  high  bier  upon 
which  blazed  a  great  torch  surrounded  by  count- 
less smaller  lights.  Then  followed  the  long  line  of 
men  with  torches,  some  gleaming  brightly,  others 
dimmed  by  clouds  of  smoke.  Far  into  the  forest 
echoed  the  sound  of  many  voices  chanting  a  weird 
old  song.  And  thus  they  moved  along  the  gorge, 
approaching  the  spot  where  the  altar  stood.  Erie- 
fried  in  his  overwrought  and  superstitious  mood 
gave  himself  up  for  lost.  He  dared  no  longer  look 
behind  him,  yet  he  was  sure  that  he  heard  the  foot- 
steps of  his  hellish  pursuer.  He  stumbled  over 
sticks  and  stones,  but  'paid  no  heed  to  them ;  he 
slipped  and  fell,  sending  the  ashes  flying  into  the 
air;  he  sprang  again  to  his  feet,  which  sometimes 
seemed  scarcely  to  touch  the  ground.  The  forest 
appeared  to  him  endless,  and  the  region  whither  he 
was  fleeing  lay  before  him  like  a  long,  dark  band. 

The  procession  had  not  yet  reached  its  destina- 
tion ;  it  had  stopped  to  rest,  the  torches  circling  in 
a  huge  ring  about  the  great  central  light,  which  was 
constantly  fed  by  sticks  of   pine-wood.     Erlefried 


43^  The  God  Seeker 

now  felt  one  ray  of  hope.  If  the  procession  would 
only  rest  long  enough  and  frequently — as  was  the 
custom  on  former  Corpus  Christi  Days,  when  four 
stops  were  made — he  might  perhaps  reach  his  goal. 
The  delusions  of  men  are  often  their  fate,  and  Erie- 
fried,  no  longer  capable  of  a  sensible  thought,  his 
mind  swayed  by  phantoms,  was  under  the  delusion 
that  at  the  very  moment  the  procession  reached  the 
altar  in  the  gorge,  his  soul  would  be  lost  for  ever. 

He  ran  with  renewed  strength.  But  the  proces- 
sion below  soon  started,  and  Bart's  house,  how  far 
away  it  still  remained !  The  fugitive  was  horrified 
to  discover  that  he  had  only  come  as  far  as  the 
heights  of  the  Tarn,  where  the  cross  had  formerly 
stood.  As  he  passed  through  a  ravine  the  proces- 
sion below  was  for  the  moment  hidden  from  his 
view,  and  when  it  reappeared  it  was  very  near  the 
point  where  the  steep  precipice  shuts  in  the  narrow 
gorge.  There  was  the  stone  altar  already  gleaming 
in  the  light  of  the  approaching  torches. 

Erlefried  took  the  beating  of  his  own  heart  to  be 
the  footsteps  of  his  pursuer;  they  drew  nearer  and 
nearer — his  feet  trembled,  his  breath  failed  him. 
He  was  just  about  to  throw  himself  down  and  give 
himself  up  for  all  eternity,  when  thethought  came  to 
him  :  "  The  cross !    It  is  close  by ;  flee  to  the  cross ! " 

He  hastened  to  the  summit.  There  lay  the  mould- 
ering wooden  cross  upon  the  ground.  Erlefried 
gave  one  cry  of  terror:  "  If  I  should  not  be  able  to 
reach  even  this!  O  Lord  Jesus,  save  me  at  Thy 
cross!"  and  he  fell  upon  it  and  lay  there  uncon- 
scious  with  outstretched  arms. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

EVERYONE  in  the  valleys  and  forests  of  Tra- 
wies  who  was  able  to  walk  took  part  in  the 
night's  procession. 

The  inspired  teachings  of  the  man  on  the  Johan- 
nesberg,  who  had  now  become  both  seer  and 
prophet,  had  taken  a  strong  hold  upon  the  people. 
Fire  was  the  Creator  of  the  world,  the  Purifier,  and 
the  Redeemer!  That  they  all  felt.  It  harmonised 
with  their  old  faith  and  yet  it  was  new ;  it  satisfied 
their  religious  longings,  made  occasions  for  festivals, 
and  was  not  dependent  upon  priests. 

They  had  brought  Wahnfred  down  from  his 
mountain,  had  thrown  a  long  red  mantle  about  him, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  walk,  as  high  priest,  behind 
the  bier  upon  which  v^s  borne  the  sacred  fire.  A 
few  children  marched  in  front  of  the  procession, 
scattering  green  leaves  and  flowers  in  the  path.  Re- 
garding this  ceremony  a  dispute  had  arisen  before 
they  started.  Sandhok,  the  forest-keeper,  and 
others,  insisted  that  flowers  should  not  be  strewn 
before  this  procession,  but  ashes.  It  was  decided, 
however,  that  the  sun  was  also  fire,  whose  warmth 
had  caused  the  flowers  to  grow. 

Many  of  the  men  carried  brandy-flasks,  that  they 

437 


43^  The  God  Seeker 

might  refresh  themselves  during  and  after  the  serv- 
ice, and  from  the  contents  of  these  flasks  they  drew 
their  inspiration  for  the  fire. 

For  many  days  it  had  seemed  as  if  with  the  re- 
establishment  of  a  religious  service  the  people  of 
Trawies  were  beginning  to  adopt  a  better  mode  of 
life,  and  as  if  through  Wahnfred's  influence  a  cer- 
tain order  had  been  restored ;  so  the  aged  Bart  also 
left  his  house  and  went  with  his  family  to  Trawies 
to  assist  at  the  Corpus  Christi  festival.  The  old 
man  longed  to  pray  once  more  in  public  and  to  hear 
others  pray.  He  was  one  of  the  few  who  followed 
the  procession  with  bared  head. 

Walking  with  the  women,  behind  the  others,  was 
Sela.  The  service  did  not  appeal  to  her  and  she 
would  have  preferred  to  steal  away,  but  she  feared 
the  darkness  and  for  this  reason  she  would  not  even 
be  the  last  in  the  procession ;  she  felt  as  if  a  whole 
army  of  evil  spirits  were  following  it.  She  did  not 
dream  that  yonder  on  the  dark  mountain-top  a  fugi- 
tive was  being  pursued  by  a  demon  within  himself. 

Sela's  heart  was  full,  yet  she  could  not  pray. 
These  unruly  flames  above  her  head  burned  all  de- 
votion out  of  her  soul  and  burned  wounds  therein 
instead.  "  What  are  these  people  seeking,"  she 
thought,  "  wandering  about  with  torches  at  mid- 
night ?"  O  child,  they  are  seeking  One  Who  shall 
bring  goodness  and  light  into  their  lives,  even  should 
it  be  but  a  delusion  and  a  phantom.  They  are  seek- 
ing One  Whom  they  can  curse  for  bringing  them  into 
this  miserable  world,  from  Whom  they  can  demand 
reparation  for  this  wretched  life  on  earth.  They  are 


The  Expiation  439 

seeking  Him  Who,  symbolised  by  their  burning 
torches,  has  been  hurled  into  the  depths  of  the 
Trach. 

Many  seek  Him  with  the  painful  longing  of  home- 
sickness; many  pronounce  His  name  in  vain.  And 
there  are  also  many  who  do  not  wish  to  find  Him, 
or  to  be  found  by  Him.  If  they  do  not  believe  in 
Him,  then  their  consciences  are  free;  if  they  must 
believe,  then  they  must  also  tremble  before  His 
wrath. 

To  Sela  it  seemed  as  if  they  could  not  have  found 
Him,  for  they  were  so  aimlessly  wandering  with 
torches  through  the  forest. 

With  the  God  in  the  heart  of  the  Virgin  this 
night's  festival  had  nothing  to  do.  He  still  re- 
mained pure  in  His  holiness.  Sela  had  but  one 
wish :  Could  she  only  send  the  torch-light  proces- 
sion out  through  the  dark  forests,  out  into  the  wide 
world  to  seek  for  him  in  whom  she  believed. 

She  believed  in  him  so  firmly  that  she  could  not 
think  it  possible  that  he  was  dead,  although  many 
drearjr  months  had  passed  since  she  had  seen  him. 
Who  can  weigh  sorrow  or  count  tears  ?  The  traces 
of  both  were  visible  in  her  worn  face. 

And  when,  in  thinking  of  her  lost  one,  she  felt  an 
overpowering  pain,  she  would  pray:  "  My  God,  I 
kave  it  in  Thy  hands!  "  and  she  was  comforted. 

Thus  Sela  longed  to  pray  on  this  night,  but  the 
strange  procession  disturbed  her.  And  when  at  last 
they  reached  the  stone  altar  where  they  were  to  place 
the  fire,  and  a  wild  uproar  and  confusion  began ; 
when  the  people,  howling  and  yelling,   clambered 


440  The  God  Seeker 

up  to  gather  wood  with  which  to  feed  the  fire; 
and  when  they  pushed  and  crowded  to  light  their 
torches  at  the  sacred  flame  and,  regardless  of  Wahn- 
fred's  warnings,  turned  upon  each  other  with  their 
firebrands,  it  was  more  than  the  girl  could  endure. 
She  did  not  join  in  the  cries  of  the  other  women, 
but  slipped  quietly  away,  and  behind  a  projecting 
rock  which  entirely  hid  the  wild  scene  from  her 
view,  she  sat  down  and  wept. 

The  procession  was  over  and  the  crowd  dispersed 
in  great  confusion.  Many  a  wounded  man  was  car- 
ried from  the  place.  The  fire  on  the  sacrificial  altar 
still  burned.  Upon  the  bits  of  broken  brandy-bot- 
tles the  blue  flames  flickered  like  will-o'-the-wisps. 

Above  the  Ritscher  the  three  stars  which  in  sum- 
mer proclaim  the  dawn  had  already  risen.  Wahn- 
fred  had  thrown  aside  the  red  mantle  and  was 
walking  quite  alone.  He  who  longs  for  peace  gazes 
yearningly  at  the  stars.  But  alas  for  thee,  poor 
man!  if  thou  hast  not  peace  in  thy  heart,  thou  wilt 
never  find  it  in  the  stars!  The  sky  is  but  a  mirror 
of  thy  soul.  Art  thou  in  harmony  with  thyself,  then 
read  the  stars.  See  how  some  are  trembling  and 
quivering  in  their  glow  of  passion,  and  how  others 
are  softly  gleaming.  Over  the  pale  Milky  Way, 
which,  according  to  the  legend,  leads  southward  to 
the  Holy  Church  and  to  St.  Peter's  grave,  hosts  of 
herds  are  wandering,  led  by  herdsmen  carrying  their 
tiny  flickering  lanterns.  Yonder  a  line  of  single 
stars  is  moving  by  itself  across  the  dark  sky  towards 
the  zenith.     Farther  on  they  stand  in  groups,  ap- 


The  Expiation  44 1 

parently  taking  counsel  with  one  another;  and 
there,  one  is  falh'ng,  quick  as  a  lightning  shaft,  to 
the  depths  below.  And  they  are  all  aiming  for  the 
same  goal,  the  peaceful,  the  glowing,  the  known  and 
the  unknown  dwellers  in  the  starry  kingdom :  they 
are  seeking  God. 

They  are  seeking  the  One  with  Whom  thou  art 
struggling  in  thy  longing,  yet  embittered  heart ! 

Sweet  Corpus  Christi  morn,  the  day  of  flags  and 
roses  and  maidens  crowned  with  wreaths!  In  Sela's 
heart  memories  of  her  childhood  arose.  On  this 
day,  as  a  sign  of  maidenly  purity,  young  girls  wear 
a  spray  of  rosemary  wound  about  their  heads,  when 
in  the  procession  they  follow  the  Host,  "  in  which 
He  is  present  as  true  God  and  man."  Formerly  this 
Feast  was  celebrated  thus  in  Trawies. 

The  girl  sat  and  brooded.  She  was  filled  with  an 
unspeakable  longing  for  this  most  glorious  festival 
of  Christianity.  Breaking  a  branch  from  a  larch-tree 
she  wound  it  about  her  head,  then  turned  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  Tarn.  Here  all  was  burned  over  and 
bare.  It  was  already  datwn  as  she  ascended  the  hill 
to  pray  before  the  cross.  The  vast  region  spread 
out  before  her  eyes,  the  cliffs  of  the  Trasank 
gleamed  like  silver  in  the  newly  awakened  day,  and 
far  above,  from  the  summit  of  the  Johannesberg, 
the  half-completed  temple  shone  out  through  the 
misty  atmosphere.  As  the  girl  did  not  see  the  cross 
towering  as  usual  in  the  forest  of  Tarn,  she  thought 
she  had  mistaken  her  way.  Suddenly  she  gave  a  cry 
of  terror  and  sprang  back  a  few  paces.     Then  she 


442  The  God  Seeker 

hesitated,  rubbed  her  eyes,  and  looked  again.  The 
cross  lay  yonder  upon  the  ground,  and  stretched 
upon  it,  like  the  Christ,  was  the  body  of  a  man. 

Her  first  thought  was  that  someone  was  lying 
there  in  mockery.  But  as  she  turned  to  look  once 
more  she  saw  that  the  face  was  as  pale  as  marble. 
Was  it  some  unfortunate  or  was  it  a  sacred  vision  ? 
Timidly  she  approached  the  prostrate  foim,  her  hor- 
ror increasing.  It  almost  seemed  as  if  the  hands  and 
feet  were  fastened  to  the  wood,  the  limbs  were  so 
strained.  The  head  was  resting  upon  the  left  arm, 
the  hair  fell  in  locks  over  the  beam.  Thus  he  lay 
there,  illumined  by  the  glow  of  the  early  morning. 

Without  uttering  a  sound  Sela  fell  upon  her 
knees.  She  had  recognised  him,  him  whom  she  had 
been  seeking  since  that  day  when  she  had  come  with 
him  here  to  this  cross.  "  Erlefried !  "  she  cried, 
falling  upon  his  breast. 

The  shock  and  the  shrill  scream  brought  the  ex- 
hausted man  to  life. 

' '  Sela !  "  he  said  softly,  as  if  dreaming,  * '  my  Sela ! ** 
and  raising  his  right  arm,  he  threw  it  about  her  neck. 

She  had  nearly  fainted.  He  drew  her  head  down 
to  his,  he  kissed  her  passionately,  reverently: 
"Dear  heavenly  angel!  I  see  thee  again,  thou 
bright  world!  "  Suddenly  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
gazed  about  him,  a  horror-stricken  look  in  his  eyes; 
with  one  hand  he  drew  the  girl  to  him,  with  the 
other  he  pushed  her  away:  "  Sela!"  he  cried,  his 
voice  shaking,  "  God  has  deserted  me!  " 

Throwing  her  arms  about  his  neck,  she  murmured 
with  trembling  lips,  "  I  will  not  leave  thee." 


CHAPTER   IX 

THE  light  and  noise  of  the  day  are  over,  the  sky 
is  thickly  covered,  we  no  longer  hear  the  bell- 
ing of  the  deer  in  the  forest,  nor  the  roaring  of  the 
torrent ;  we  hear  only  the  ticking  of  the  eternal  clock 
which  measures  the  life  of  man. 

The  narrator  of  these  events  was  himself  filled 
with  amazement  at  the  records  and  legends  concern- 
ing Trawies.  Yet  we  should  also  remember  that  this 
age,  when  people  were  often  victims  of  monstrous 
errors,  was  a  different  one  from  our  own. 

But  are  we  then  to-day  so  perfect  ?  No  more  so 
than  then.  We  feel  nothing  but  contempt  for  the 
time  when  people  tormented  themselves  in  their  fear 
of  meeting  the  personal  devil.  The  devil  troubles 
us  no  longer ;  the  phantoms  which  take  possession 
of  our  souls  receive  other  names.  We  cannot  com- 
prehend  a  condition  of  things  where  it  would  be 
possible  for  the  Church  to  destroy  individuals  and  a 
whole  community  with  its  curse,  without  some  hu- 
man law  coming  to  their  aid.  Let  us  consider  a  mo- 
ment whether  a  single  one  of  the  old  prejudices  has 
really  disappeared:  religion,  science,  socialism,  poli- 
tics, still  have  their  priests,  their  false  prophets,  and 
their  hangmen,  to  whom  thousands  fall  as  a  sacrifice. 

443 


444  The  God  Seeker 

Human  aspirations  and  passions  are  the  same  to- 
day as  then,  only  the  measures  taken  to  satisfy  them 
are  more  powerful  and  more  politic.  That  is  our 
victory.  But  satisfying  aspirations  does  not  satisfy 
mankind ;  still  restless,  we  are  ever  searching  for 
truth,  and  we  are  made  unhappy  by  its  discovery. 
Only  dull  minds  are  able,  in  their  egotism,  to  sun 
themselves  in  the  light  of  their  age;  the  clear- 
sighted man  increases  human  misery  with  his 
knowledge,  for  he  sees  nothing  but  the  unfortuate, 
ever-degenerating,  perishing  race.  And  his  feelings 
are  not  unlike  those  of  the  carpenter,  Wahnfred,  in 
his  outcast  Trawies.  Still  upheld  by  his  own  heart, 
thirsting  for  life,  and  by  his  spirit  struggling  for 
freedom,  he  cannot  believe  that  all  is  lost ;  he  is 
seeking  a  way  of  escape,  he  is  seeking  ideals,  he  is 
seeking  God. 

There  have  always  been  heaven  seekers,  each  one 
struggling  with  all  his  powers  to  reach  his  goal — 
even  should  this  be  only  a  heaven  on  earth.  The 
majority  of  mankind  seek  for  heaven  ;  it  is  those  rarer 
souls,  with  higher  aspirations,  who  seek  for  God. 
They  search  for  that  which  they  feel  is  above  or  be- 
hind all  material  force,  and  they  are  tormented  and 
at  the  same  time  happy  in  striving  to  attain  their 
ideal. 

Our  age  especially  has  produced  a  race  of  God 
seekers.  They  call  Him  by  many  names,  still  they 
seek  Him  ;  they  do  not  wish  to  confess  Him,  nor  can 
they  do  without  Him.  Those  who  are  conscious  of 
having  lost  God  may  be  unhappy,  although  they  are 
not  lost  themselves.  They  will  not  sink  deeper,  they 


The  Expiation  445 

will  rise ;  for  man  seeks  God,  or  what  he  understands 
as  God,  not  below,  but  above  himself.  He  creates 
God  in  his  own  image;  this  image  is  the  most  per- 
fect man  conceivable,  a  model  necessary  to  every 
living,  striving  soul. 

False  teachings  and  misunderstandings,  alas!  how 
many!  But  should  he  whose  own  heart  has  bled 
and  must  bleed  in  the  struggle  stand  here  as  judge  ? 
The  paths  of  the  seekers  are  devious  and  many  are 
not  less  visionary  than  those  over  which  Wahnfred, 
the  carpenter,  and  his  son  wandered.  Many  place 
splinters  and  bits  of  glass  in  their  shoes  and  stagger 
forward,  leaning  on  a  pilgrim's  staff.  Many  go  by 
the  broad  road,  laughing,  singing,  and  dancing. 
And  many  lose  their  way  and  wander  about  in  the 
wilderness,  struggling  with  their  own  souls  which 
are  filled  with  ever-increasing  longings,  until,  with 
one  despairing  glance  at  the  heights  above,  they  fall 
to  the  ground  and  perish. 

Upon  all  roads  and  in  all  deserts, — you  may  go 
eastward,  you  may  go  westward,  north  or  south, — 
everywhere  you  will  find  traces  of  the  God  seekers: 
here  a  bed  of  roses,  vonder  a  stone  altar;  here  a 
sword,  yonder  a  cross.  The  cry  of  the  dervish  in 
the  mosque,  the  rattling  and  clapping  in  the  wig- 
wam, the  music  of  the  cathedral  bell,  all  are  the  cry 
of  anguish  of  the  suffering  sons  of  earth  for  a  divine 
Saviour.  It  is  the  passionate  longing  for  a  Power 
which  conquers  the  brute  in  us,  frees  our  spirit,  and 
gives  us  perfection. 

But  there  are  many — and  who  can  withstand  their 
powerful,  terrible  teachings ! — who  burrow  their  way 


44^  The  God  Seeker 

through  the  animal  kingdom,  through  plant  life  and 
mould,  into  the  heart  of  the  earth.  They  are  not 
God  seekers :  they  deny  the  ideal,  they  seek  the  real, 
They  long  for  the  right,  but  find  it  not,  for  on  the 
road  to  Truth  they  have  grown  blind.  May  they 
never  succeed  in  quite  undermining  the  ground 
where  happier  men  tread ! 

And  may  the  God  seekers  to-day  and  in  the  future 
find  their  longed-for  symbol,  their  expiation,  in  a 
better  way  than  our  poor,  repentant,  ignorant 
Wahnfred  was  forced  to  find  his! 

Trawies  must  perish !  It  has  no  God,  for  it  has  no 
ideal  and  no  law. 

Upon  the  Johannesberg  resounded  the  blows  of 
the  hammer.  They  re-echoed  through  the  wide  for- 
ests where  spring  was  weaving  her  garment  of  green. 
And  the  mightiest  trees  crashed  and  fell. 

Wahnfred  had  succeeded  in  placing  the  men  of 
Trawies  best  capable  of  working  under  the  yoke. 
It  was  partly  superstition  and  their  religious  long- 
ings which  made  them  labour  so  industriously  on 
the  temple,  and  it  was  partly  the  fantastic  words 
and  sermons  of  the  carpenter,  and  partly  the  charm 
of  regular  work  itself. 

They  finally  came  to  believe  that  in  this  building 
they  were  erecting  a  fortress,  wherein  they  might 
defend  themselves  against  the  world  outside,  which 
they  hated  and  feared  more  and  more.  The  forests 
of  Trawies  lay  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's  land,  and 
the  isolated  Trasank  mountain  was  the  only  place  of 
refuge  where  the  outlawed  people  felt  secure.     Not 


The  Expiation  447 

a  week  passed  that  someone  from  these  forests  was 
not  murdered  while  attempting  to  cross  the  border. 
Now  that  peace  and  order  had  been  re-established 
in  the  surrounding  country  and  since  every  effort  of 
friendly  assistance  had  proved  futile,  still  more 
stringent  measures  had  been  adopted  against  the 
outcasts.  It  was  at  last  clear  that  they  must  be 
overpowered  and  wiped  out,  or  left  to  perish  by 
themselves. 

And  these  denizens  of  the  forest  realised  this  and 
resisted  madly.  They  crossed  the  ring  of  fire  in 
hordes  and  plundered  farms  and  committed  murders 
on  the  highway. 

Once  a  troop  of  peasants  and  soldiers  came  from 
the  region  of  the  "  Five  Pines  "  with  the  intention 
of  annihilating  the  robber  nest  by  the  Trach.  But 
the  men  of  Trawies,  although  behaving  like  brutes 
towards  each  other,  united  quickly  against  this  com- 
mon enemy,  and  a  terrible  battle  took  place  by  the 
Dreiwand  in  which  Trawies  was  victorious. 

At  the  time  of  the  pestilence,  when  it  was  nearing 
its  end,  two  strangers  arrived  in  the  valley  of  the 
Trach.  They  wore  long  cloaks,  under  which  they 
carried  various  implements  concealed  that  might 
have  been  either  tools  or  weapons,  but  were  prob- 
ably both.  These  strangers  pretended  to  be  phy- 
sicians, who,  having  heard  that  a  certain  herb,  a 
sure  antidote  for  the  black  death,  was  growing 
on  the  cliffs  of  the  Trasank,  had  come  to  gather 
it.  This  was  most  interesting  news  to  the  people. 
They  looked  the  strangers  over,  followed  them,  and 
showed  themselves  ready  to  oblige  them  in  every 


448  The  God  Seeker 

way.  Physicians?  They  might  also  be  magicians! 
Their  appearance  was  sufficiently  mysterious.  They 
wandered  about  for  several  days  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, calling  at  various  houses  to  exchange  friendly 
greetings.  At  last  they  explained  that,  not  wish- 
ing to  act  on  their  own  responsibility,  they  would 
like  to  speak  with  the  head  of  the  parish  to  inquire 
if  they  might  be  allowed  to  gather  the  herbs. 

The  head  of  the  parish !  No  one  really  knew  to 
whom  to  refer  the  strangers.  The  people,  however, 
were  quite  ready  to  grant  them  their  permission  to 
gather  the  herbs,  provided  that  they  should  receive 
their  share  of  them.  But  as  the  men  continued  to 
insist  on  speaking  with  the  chief  man  in  Trawies, 
they  were  finally  taken  up  the  Johannesberg  to 
Wahnfred. 

And  to  him  they  confided  their  mission.  They 
were,  in  fact,  physicians,  although  physicians  of  the 
soul,  sent  by  the  Good  Shepherd,  Who  Himself  had 
once  wandered  over  the  earth  seeking  lost  sheep. 
They  were  messengers  from  the  H  Ay  Church,  that 
wished  not  the  death  of  the  sinners,  but  that  they 
should  repent  and  live.  And  it  had  sent  the  follow- 
ing message:  Once  more,  and  for  the  last  time,  the 
Church  offered  pardon  for  their  crimes.  It  was 
ready  to  open  its  arms  to  receive  the  parish  back 
among  the  faithful,  also  to  mediate  for  them  with 
the  law,  on  the  condition  that,  they  should  deliver 
into  the  hands  of  the  authorities  seven  of  their  worst 
criminals  to  expiate  their  sins  by  death. 

Wahnfred  replied  that  it  was  indeed  time  that  the 
Church  should  attempt  to  re-establish  this  poor  par- 


The  Expiation  449 

ish,  which  it  had  so  ruthlessly  cast  out  when  it  was 
composed  mostly  of  innocent  men ;  however,  he 
could  not  promise  to  deliver  into  their  hands  the 
seven  criminals;  but  in  place  of  these  he,  the 
originator  of  all  the  trouble,  the  murderer  of  the 
priest  of  Trawies,  was  ready  to  surrender  himself  to 
justice. 

The  messengers  replied  that  their  powers  did  not 
extend  as  far  as  this,  for  it  was  no  longer  a  question 
of  the  murdered  priest,  whose  death  had  been  al- 
ready expiated  by  the  eleven  heads  at  the  time  the 
murder  occurred,  but  rather  of  the  horrible  desecra- 
tions committed  against  God  and  the  Church,  and 
of  the  countless  crimes  of  which  the  people  of  Tra- 
wies had  since  been  guilty. 

Wahnfred  answered  that  it  would  be  an  injustice 
to  punish  only  seven  out  of  so  many  criminals,  for 
if  the  penalty  were  to  reach  all  the  evil-doers  in 
Trawies,  not  one  inhabitant  would  be  left.  He 
then  described  the  misery  and  the  trouble  of  recent 
years,  how  the  people  were  plunged  into  sin,  and 
how  they  had  already  suffered  sufficiently  for  it. 
And  he  implored  for  mercy. 

The  two  strangers  shuddered ;  at  the  same  time 
they  were  touched  by  the  story  told  them  so  elo- 
quently by  this  man.  They  felt  the  passionate  spirit 
breathing  through  his  words  as  he  pleaded  for  his 
unfortunate  fellow-men,  and  in  his  dark  eye,  in  his 
strange  speech,  was  a  something  which  filled  them 
with  awe.  Noticing  the  little  lamp  burning  in  his 
room  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  they  asked  its  mean- 
ing.  He  replied  that  it  was  the  eternal  light  which 

89 


4SO  The  God  Seeker 

had  been  preserved  in  Trawies  through  all  the 
darkness  and  storms  unto  this  day. 

The  priestly  messengers  thought  of  the  eternal 
light  upon  the  altar  and  praised  the  piety  of  the 
keeper  of  the  light  as  a  remnant  of  godliness,  and 
they  expressed  the  hope  that  the  Holy  Church 
would  at  last  allow  mercy  to  take  the  place  of  just- 
ice and  would  receive  the  poor  sinners  back  into 
her  loving  care. 

Wuhnfred  crossed  his  hands  upon  his  breast  and 
his  pale  face  glowed  with  joyful  excitement.  In 
spirit  he  already  saw  the  expiation  and  the  re-estab- 
lishment of  his  native  parish  in  harmony  with  so- 
ciety and  under  the  protection  of  the  Church. 

The  conference,  however,  was  not  ended  when  a 
loud  tumult  was  heard  before  the  house.  A  sus- 
picion had  arisen  in  the  minds  of  a  few  of  the 
people  that  something  besides  herb-gatherers  was 
concealed  beneath  the  long  mantles.  Once  aroused, 
the  idea  was  conveyed  to  others,  and  the  strangers 
were  watched  and  followed  to  Wahnfred's  house. 
When  the  people  who  were  listening  outside  per- 
ceived whither  the  conversation  was  leading,  they 
burst  open  the  door  with  an  enraged  cry:  They 
would  not  be  betrayed  and  sold ;  rather  would 
they  be  hanged  than  give  themselves  up  to  rulers 
with  whose  manner  of  caring  for  Trawies  they  were 
already  familiar. 

"  We  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  masters  who 
have  given  us  such  a  hell  on  earth,"  they  said. 

"  And  who  can  also  give  you  heaven,"  inter- 
rupted one  of  the  strangers. 


The  Expiation  45  ^ 

"  The  priests  have  no  heaven  but  the  heaven  on 
earth,  which  they  keep  for  themselves.  And  as  for 
the  one  they  offer  us  in  the  other  world,  that  is  of 
very  little  concern  to  them." 

"  My  good  people,"  said  the  stranger,  "  your 
horizon  is  small.  But  if  you  should  wander  a  thou- 
sand years,  search  all  the  roads  in  the  world,  enter 
all  the  huts,  and  visit  all  the  palaces,  you  would  not 
find  a  single  soul  who  has  a  heaven  on  earth.  You 
would  see  many  living  amid  the  splendours  of  this 
world  who  are  condemning  others  to  hell  while  car- 
rying a  tormenting  hell  about  in  their  own  hearts. 
Oh,  believe  us,  people  of  Trawies,  we  do  not  pre- 
tend to  be  better  or  greater  than  you ;  but  it  is  our 
duty — laid  upon  us  by  God  and  by  human  laws — to 
turn  the  eyes  of  men  away  from  their  own  misery 
towards  the  Eternal  Father  and  towards  future  hap- 
piness, that  they  may  not  despair.  Whosoever  fol- 
lows our  guidance  sees  heaven  open  before  him  and 
the  earthly  paths  are  illumined  by  heavenly  rays. 
But  he  who  turns  defiantly  away,  scorning  our 
teachings,  by  which  all  humanity  should  be  led, 
must  justly  bear  the  mi^ry  of  the  outcast." 

"  Knock  him  down!"  screamed  a  man  in  the 
frenzied  crowd. 

"  You  have  experienced  it  yourselves!  "  cried  the 
stranger  with  increasing  zeal.  "  The  Church  has 
withdrawn  her  hand  from  you  and  what  have  you 
become  ?  A  band  of  blasphemers,  adulterers,  rob- 
bers, and  murderers!  " 

Those  were  the  last  words  of  the  unfortunate 
man.    The  next  moment  he  lay  stretched  upon  the 


452  The  God  Seeker 

ground.  His  companion  escaped,  dripping  with 
bloodjxout  he  never  crossed  the  ring  of  fire.  Wahn- 
fred  endeavoured,  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life,  to  ap- 
pease the  infuriated  mob.  And  when,  under  the 
darkness  of  night,  he  buried  the  stranger  on  the 
mountain,  he  also  buried  his  last  remnant  of  hope. 
He  was  now  convinced  that  from  outside  there  was 
no  salvation  for  Trawies — it  remained  irretrievably 
lost. 

And  the  more  he  strove  to  exert  his  influence 
over  these  brutalised  people,  so  much  the  more 
earnestly  did  he  preach  the  terrible  Eternal  God, 
who  had  appeared  to  them  in  the  fire,  and  with  so 
much  the  more  zeal  did  he  urge  on  the  building  of 
their  house  of  prayer. 


CHAPTER  X 

THROUGHOUT  the  forests  was  heard  the  sound 
of  the  axe,  and  on  many  an  ancient  tree  the 
men  worked  for  days.  And  then  the  mighty  trunk 
crawled  on  a  hundred  feet — for  as  many  branches 
as  it  had  formerly  possessed,  just  so  many  men 
now  clung  to  its  sides,  carrying  it  up  the  mount- 
ain. The  reddish,  gleaming  walls  of  the  temple 
grew  higher  and  higher.  The  logs  were  roughly 
hewn  but  they  were  solidly  crowded  together  at 
the  corners.  Towards  the  east  a  narrow  opening 
was  left  for  an  entrance;  high  in  the  walls,  higher 
than  man  could  reach,  seven  windows  had  been  cut, 
so  small  that  even  a  cat  could  have  hardly  passed 
through  them. 

Wahnfred  was  the  master  builder.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  the  temple  was  ready  for  the  roof.  The 
workmen,  who  were  difficult  to  manage  and  were 
constantly  quarrelling  with  one  another,  now  de- 
rrianded  a  holiday.  Wahnfred  granted  it,  and,  gath- 
ered about  a  great  fire,  before  which  the  game  was 
roasting,  they  held  their  feast.  On  such  occasions 
they  were  glad  to  unite  in  bonds  of  brotherhood, 
only  to  sever  them  the  next  moment.  Roughly 
spoken  words  were  their  expression  of  friendship, 

453 


454  The  God  Seeker 

although  they  were  far  more  inclined  to  snatch  the 
choice  bits  from  one  another's  mouths.  Hand-to- 
hand  fights  were  of  frequent  occurrence;  thus  it  came 
about  that  many  were  injured  while  at  work  on  the 
building.  But  when  Wahnfred's  dark  eye  was  upon 
them  they  laboured  quietly.  The  slender,  long- 
bearded  man,  as  he  walked  about  among  the  trees, 
with  a  gleaming  axe  in  his  hand,  looking  as  if  he 
would  rather  strike  off  the  head  of  a  man  than 
plunge  the  blade  into  the  wood,  was  a  strange, 
weird  sight. 

No  one  accompanied  him  when  he  strode  rapidly 
through  the  dense  forest  of  the  Johannesberg,  some- 
times tearing  through  almost  impenetrable  thickets, 
as  if  he  would  brush  off  some  object  which  was 
clinging  to  him.  No  one  saw  him  standing  upon 
the  meadows,  gazing  down  into  the  valley,  where 
to  the  right  lay  the  Gestade  and  to  the  left  Tra- 
wies,  with  the  gleaming  walls  of  the  old  church. 
And  then  he  would  look  over  at  the  heights  where 
Bart's  house  stood — but  not  often  and  with  little 
satisfaction.  His  son  Erlefried,  whom  he  had  twice 
given  up  for  dead,  had  reappeared.  When  he  heard 
that  he  had  been  shot  by  robbers,  he  had  wept  for 
this  son  for  whom  he  had  hoped  a  happier  lot  than 
had  been  his  own.  And  when  later  he  learned  that 
Erlefried  had  perished  in  the  forest  fire,  he  rejoiced 
that  it  had  been  granted  his  child  to  leave  this  world 
while  yet  innocent.  But  he  still  lived, — lived  to 
meet  a  day  when  he  must  share  the  expiation  with 
Trawies.     And  perhaps  justly  now. 

He  would   have   been   glad  to  see  his  son  once 


The  Expiation  455 

more,  but  he  dreaded  the  meeting.  He  bore  in  his 
soul  the  image  of  the  frank,  pure,  childish  face  of 
his  beloved  Erlefried,  and  this  image  had  been  his 
comfort  and  happiness  in  his  unhappy  life.  Now  he 
feared  that  he  must  see  a  pale,  haggard  counten- 
ance, bearing  the  imprint  pf  crime  and  misery.  It 
disturbed  him  that  Erlefried  had  not  been  to  see 
him.  Was  it  meant  for  a  silent  judgment  of  his 
deed  ?  Well  and  good;  if  so,  he  blessed  his  son  for 
it.  But  should  it  be  a  lack  of  filial  love,  he  would 
not  bless  him.  Ah,  no,  Wahnfred  may  neither 
bless  nor  curse ;  Heaven  might  turn  the  blessing  of 
such  a  man  into  a  curse !  He  was  also  surprised  that 
Erlefried  took  no  part  in  the  building  of  the  temple. 
If  he  avoided  work,  what  could  protect  or  save  him  ? 

From  the  summit  of  the  mountain  the  sounds  of 
the  raising  the  heavy  beams  for  the  roof,  the  ham- 
mering of  the  carpenters,  and  the  shouting  of  the 
wood-cutters  re-echoed  throughout  the  forest. 

Wahnfred  listened  joyfully  to  these  sounds;  they 
were  more  comforting  to  him  than  Easter  bells. 
Thus  alone  could  a  future  be  assured.  If  he  could 
succeed  in  busying  the  people  regularly,  so  that 
after  the  temple  was  cofnpleted  they  would  turn  to 
their  fields,  much  would  be  accomplished.  If  they 
only  had  their  land  again  they  would  endeavour  to 
defend  and  care  for  it,  and  they  would  then  see  the 
necessity  of  uniting  with  the  world  and  of  once 
more  becoming  a  part  of  their  fatherland. 

Thus  was  the  man  on  the  Johannesberg  tossed 
about  between  despair  and  hope.  He  yielded 
quickly    to    every   mood.      He    had    not    finished 


456  The  God  Seeker 

picturing  to  himself  the  blessings  which  honest 
work  might  bring  to  Trawies  —  for  work  was  the 
only  thing  which  could  remove  the  sting  of  the  curse 
and  make  the  community  worthy  of  the  protection 
of  the  State— when  the  noise  on  the  building  above 
him  suddenly  ceased  and  a^  unusual  uproar  was 
heard  in  its  place. 

Above  the  branches  of  the  young  fir-trees  gleamed 
the  beams  of  the  roof  clearly  outlined  against  the 
sky.  The  workmen  left  the  ridge  and  gables  and 
quickly  descended  to  the  ground.  Cries  and  curses, 
interspersed  with  shots,  filled  the  air.  A  messenger 
was  already  hastening  through  the  woods  to  call  the 
master.  Soon  Wahnfred  understood  the  cause  of 
the  tumult.  They  must  defend  their  building;  en-  ' 
emies  had  arrived,  a  whole  rabble  of  vagabonds  and 
highway-robbers,  and  were  trying  to  set  the  new 
fortress  on  fire.  The  struggle  was  being  fought  with 
all  kinds  of  weapons— cudgels,  pick-axes,  guns, 
stones,  and  sticks.  As  the  trees  had  been  falling, 
so  now  the  men  fell.  The  besiegers  had  succeeded 
in  hurling  a  firebrand  into  the  building,  but  its  de- 
fenders had  quickly  smothered  the  flames.  The 
screaming  was  so  loud  that  Wahnfred's  voice  could 
not  be  heard. 

"  Down  with  the  prison !  "  was  the  war-cry  of  the 
besiegers.  "We  need  no  dungeon!"  But  their 
voices  grew  fainter  and  fainter  and  soon  changed 
into  groans  and  death-rattles.  A  few  escaped ;  the 
rest  were  taken  prisoners  and  placed  before  the 
judge.  Wahnfred  asked  them:  "  Why  have  you 
come  to  destroy  the  temple  ?  " 


The  Expiation  457 

"  Because  we  must,''  answered  the  leader  in  an 
angry  voice. 

"  Who  is  the  master  who  forces  you  ? " 

"  Our  left  hand." 

"  We  will  strike  it  off,"  said  Wahnfred. 

"  Do  it !  And  from  out  the  ground  it  will  stretch 
forth  the  three  fingers  by  which  we  have  sworn!  " 

"  What  have  you  sworn  ?  " 

"  To  destroy  everything  that  can  be  destroyed." 

"  Oh,  you  pitiable  creatures,  and  you  yourselves 
are  writhing  upon  the  ground  like  worms  to  be  trod 
upon." 

"  Tread  upon  us,  then!  You  will  only  be  obey- 
ing our  own  laws.  To-morrow  you  shall  be  trod 
upon.  We  are  everywhere  and  all  powerful.  Do 
you  know  who  we  are  ? " 

"  Reprobates!     Criminals!  "  cried  Wahnfred. 

"  Ha,  those  are  tame  words,  pet  names,  with 
which  you  like  to  flatter  one  another.  We  are 
the  redeemers, — we  are  the  '  Children  of  Eternal 
Death.'  " 

"  You  are  madmen !  " 

"  To  your  blind  eyes." 

"  You  know  not  whai<;  you  want." 

"Do  you  know?"  cried  the  prisoner.  "You 
would  live  and  you  see  that  everyone  must  die ;  you 
want  happiness  and  do  everything  that  will  bring 
you  sorrow.  You  are  the  madmen ;  we  know  what 
we  are  doing,  and  we  will  put  an  end  to  this  mon- 
ster. Everything  must  be  exterminated  !  We  threw 
fire  into  the  Tarn,  we  brought  the  pestilence  to  Tra- 
wies.      When  the  world  is  rotten,  all  must  perish !  " 


45^  The  God  Seeker 

Wahnfred  grew  deathly  pale.  Here,  all  at  once, 
this  monster  stood  before  him — full  grown  and  un- 
fettered. That  which  he  had  heretofore  carried 
about  with  him  as  a  shadow  was  now  terribly  clear, 
terribly  true.  Of  all  the  ways  that  he  had  tried,  this 
must  be  the  right  one!  Of  all  the  gospels  which  he 
had  thought  out,  this  was  the  greatest!  The  great- 
est and  the  last! — Annihilation! 

Wahnfred  laughed.  His  laughter  re-echoed  from 
the  walls  of  the  new  building.  His  head  seemed  to 
be  growing  more  erect,  his  long  hair  was  as  if 
alive;  he  raised  his  thin  hands  and  stood  there  and 
laughed.  The  people  of  Trawies  had  seen  many  a 
fearful  sight,  but  never  one  so  terrible  as  Wahnfred 
now  appeared  to  them. 

His  laughter  ceased,  his  pallor  grew  more  intense, 
his  blazing  eyes  more  fiery  than  usual.  Some  covered 
their  faces,  murmuring:  "  I  cannot  look  at  him." 

"  Thus  will  the  Eternal  Judge  appear  at  the  Judg- 
ment Day,"  whispered  others. 

Wahnfred  now  turned  to  the  prisoners,  saying: 
"  You  are  the  children  of  death,  and  his  hangmen, 
yet  you  come  to  destroy  this  temple  ? " 

"  We  will  destroy  it,"  answered  the  foremost  of 
the  men,  with  an  expression  of  deepest  hatred. 

"  Then  you  know  not  what  you  do.  Then  you 
know  not  that  we  have  built  this  temple  to  that 
powerful  Divinity  that  destroys  everything.  This 
is  the  House  of  Fire.  In  this  temple  Trawies  will 
assemble  to  worship  this  Destroyer  and  to  sacrifice 
to  Him.  We  will  stand  by  you  if  you  will  stand  by 
us.     Fire  shall  be  our  flag  by  which  we  all  swear!  " 


The  Expiation  459 

The  "  Children  of  Eternal  Death  "  did  not  under- 
stand him,  even  as  no  one  could  understand  him, 
but  they  longed  for  life  and  they  swore  by  the  flag. 
It  is  always  thus  with  those  who  think  that  "eternal 
death  "  is  best;  they  live,  ah,  how  willingly!  And 
why  should  they  not  ?  They  are  but  flies  born  to 
live  a  single  day  in  the  kingdom  of  life,  and  such  an 
opportunity  to  laugh  and  to  weep  will  not  come  to 
them  soon  again. 

The  Trawiesers  had  greatly  increased  their 
strength  by  the  addition  of  the  "Children  of  Eter- 
nal Death,"  and  the  work  proceeded. 

Wahnfred  descended  to  his  house  and  took  the 
lamp,  wherein  the  little  flame  of  the  fire  guardian 
still  brightly  glowed,  and  gazed  into  the  light  so 
long  and  so  steadily  that  it  began  to  quiver  and 
tremble  before  his  eyes;  then  he  said:  "All  the 
stars  have  disappeared ;  thou  alone  hast  remained 
with  us!  " 

Two  days  before  Midsummer  Day  the  block- 
house was  completed.  They  called  it  the  block- 
house, although  it  was  not  one  in  reality,  for  the 
defences  were  lacking;  Wahnfred  had  promised  that 
these  should  be  put  u^  later,  but  in  the  meantime 
the  new  building  should  be  simply  a  temple,  whose 
strength  should  be  demonstrated  from  within,  rather 
than  from  without.  It  towered  upon  the  mountain 
like  a  citadel  and  could  be  seen  from  far  and  wide. 
It  covered  nearly  as  much  space  as  the  church  in 
Trawies.  From  a  distance  it  seemed  to  be  without 
windows;  the  roof  rose  in  an  abrupt  angle  and  the 
gable  had  been  decorated  with  wreaths  of  evergreen. 


460  The  God  Seeker 

Viewed  close  by,  the  walls  were  rough  and 
rude  and  at  the  corners  the  ends  of  the  beams  were 
uneven  and  of  different  lengths.  The  entrance  was 
narrow  and  closed  by  a  massive  door  furnished  with 
heavy  bars  and  locks,  like  that  of  a  prison.  The  old 
blacksmith  from  the  valley  had  made  the  double 
lock,  which  included  a  Himmelsriegel  (a  heaven's 
bolt),  whose  secret  neither  enemy  nor  friend  could 
divine  without  the  key,  and  this  Wahnfred  kept  in 
his  possession.  The  interior  of  the  building  was 
dimly  lighted.  The  little  rings  of  sunshine  pene- 
trating through  the  tiny  round  windows  rested  on 
the  walls  like  gleaming  lamps.  The  floor  was  made 
of  logs  hewn  flat  on  the  upper  side.  Against  the 
wall  opposite  the  door  stood  a  broad  stone  pedestal 
as  altar.  Above  this  in  a  niche  was  the  place  for  the 
holy  relics.  The  arch  of  the  roof  resembled  that  of 
a  basilica,  although  the  heavy  rafters  were  more  nu- 
merous and  arranged  with  greater  irregularity;  it 
was  a  confused  mass  of  logs,  boards,  and  beams, 
which  seemed  designed  to  support  the  roof. 

The  building  was  completed  without  a  festival  or 
consecration  of  any  kind.  The  dedication  was  to 
take  place  on  Midsummer  Day,  and  all  who  called 
themselves  Trawiesers  and  were  opposed  to  a  recon- 
ciliation with  the  Church  and  State  were  invited  by 
Wahnfred  to  participate.  He  who  did  not  appear 
upon  the  Johannesberg  on  this  occasion  should  be 
banished  from  Trawies  for  ever.  A  number  of  men 
were  busy  in  the  interior  decorating  the  beams  with 
green  boughs  and  bright  bunting.  They  talked 
very    freely  with    one    another;    they    rejoiced    tQ 


The  Expiation  461 

have  a  church,  for  now  their  festivals  would  begin 
again. 

"  Nothing  will  ever  begin  again  with  that  man," 
cried  one  of  the  workmen  defiantly. 

"  With  what  man  ?" 

"  With  our  high  priest,  Wahnfred.  He  cares 
nothing  for  festivals.  He  is  embittered.  He  is  a 
man  before  whom  one  must  stand  in  awe!  " 

"  Mein  Gott !  who  is  going  to  be  afraid  ?  If  he 
becomes  too  unruly  we  will  split  open  his  skull." 

Wahnfred  descended  one  day  to  the  valley  and 
walked  along  the  banks  of  the  Trach ;  he  longed  to 
see  his  son  Erlefried.  He  passed  the  Dreiwand  and 
crossed  the  square  where  Gallo  Weissbucher's  house 
had  once  stood.  He  was  fighting  against  reminis- 
cences, which,  like  snakes,  were  winding  themselves 
about  his  heart.  In  the  Diirbach  gorge  he  suddenly 
came  upon  a  man  lying  in  the  grass;  he  appeared 
to  be  dead ;  the  head  was  resting  upon  a  stone  by 
the  bank,  the  hands  hanging  over  into  the  roaring 
stream  below.  Wahnfred  stopped  a  short  distance 
away  from  the  prostrate  form,  which  seemed  to  be 
that  of  a  young  maix;  the  feet  were  bare,  the  hair 
was  blond  and  curly.  What  if  it  should  be  Erie- 
fried?  He  thought  of  the  murdered  priest  in  the 
church.  What  if  this  should  be  the  atonement!  He 
tried  to  call  him  by  the  familiar  name,  but  he  could 
only  groan.  At  the  same  moment  the  figure  turned 
and  rose ;  in  his  hand  wriggled  a  trout. 

"Erlefried!"  burst  from  Wahnfred's  lips.  It 
was  he.     In  all  his  strength  and  beauty  he  stood 


462  The  God  Seeker 

there.  He  was  perfectly  calm,  but,  as  a  sign  that 
he  was  conscious  of  the  gravity  of  this  meeting,  he 
at  once  threw  the  fish  back  into  the  water. 

Erlefried!  "  repeated  Wahnfred,  and  the  young 
man  felt  the  reproach  which  lay  in  his  voice. 

"  Art  thou  seeking  me,  father  ? "  he  asked. 

"  The  son  seems  to  have  forgotten  his  father," 
replied  Wahnfred. 

"  I  have  not  forgotten  thee,  but  I  should  not 
have  sought  thee." 

"  Thou  wilt  come  on  Midsummer  Day  to  the 
Johannesberg  to  the  dedication  of  the  new  temple  ? " 
said  Wahnfred. 

"  I  shall  stay  away,"  replied  Erlefried;  "  I  have 
something  else  to  do.  I  am  glad  to  tell  thee,  father, 
that  on  Midsummer  Day  I  am  to  take  a  wife." 

Wahnfred  was  silent  for  a  little,  then  he  mur- 
mured :  "  For  a  long  time  I  thought  that  thou  wert 
dead." 

"  Believe  it  still,  father;  it  will  be  better  for 
thee,"  answered  the  young  man  ;  "  I  cannot  go  thy 
way,  I  cannot.  I  pray  that  it  may  be  the  right  one 
for  thee.  But  leave  me  to  my  pleasures  in  the 
green  woods." 

"  The  pleasures  of  the  forest  are  dangerous,"  an- 
swered Wahnfred.  "I  would  call  all,  everyone, 
from  the  forests  and  gather  them  into  the  fold." 

"  Leave  me  alone,"  said  Erlefried;  "  I  am  go- 
ing to  clear  the  forest  and  plough  the  fields.  Bart 
has  given  me  his  house  by  the  Tarn,  and  there  I 
will  live  and  die  in  peace  with  my  Sela." 

Wahnfred's  reply  is  not  related,  nor  what  were 


The  Expiation  463 

his  sensations  as  he  stood  before  his  son.  The 
thoughts  of  the  one  were  of  sorrow  and  death  ;  those 
of  the  other,  of  happiness  and  life. 

"We  cannot  help  it  that  we  have  grown  such 
strangers  to  one  another,"  said  Erlefried,  "  but  in 
heaven  it  will  be  recorded  that  we  belong  together. 
Farewell,  father!  " 

"And  thou  wilt  refuse  thy  hand  to  thy  old  father, 
who  has  been  deserted  by  God  and  man!"  said 
Wahnfred,  and  with  a  cry  of  pain  he  fell  upon  the 
young  man's  neck.  "  O  child,  O  my  child!  hast 
thou  then  quite  forgotten  the  poor  man  whose 
happiness  on  earth  thou  hast  been  in  the  years  gone 
by?  Hast  thou  forgotten  thy  mother,  who  so  often 
held  us  both  in  her  arms,  as  I  now  hold  thee  and 
where  I  would  always  keep  thee,  my  beloved  child  ? 
Oh,  come  with  me,  Erlefried ;  thou  art  young  and 
good,  now  thou  mayest  safely  die — the  only  one 
among  us  lost  ones  who  may  safely  die.  See,  thy 
path  leads  thee  so  near  to  heaven's  gates,  beyond 
which  thy  forefathers  await  thee,  and  thy  mother, 
and  there  dwells  thy  God.  Oh,  do  not  say  that  thou 
art  too  young  and  that  thou  wouldst  enjoy  this 
beautiful  world.  If  thou  dost  not  turn  now,  thy 
path  will  soon  lead  thee  back  to  the  world, — the  false 
world, — will  lead  thee  astray,  and  thou  wilt  be  over- 
come by  thy  passions.  Thou  shalt  encounter  fear, 
care,  and  crime;  where  thou  wouldst  find  happiness, 
pain  awaits  thee.  To  weep  at  graves  will  be  the 
lightest  of  thy  troubles.  Faithlessness  will  shake  thy 
confidence,  the  misery  of  mankind  will  destroy  thy 
faith  in  God ;  thou  wilt  be  able  neither  to  pray  nor 


4^4  The  God  Seeker 

to  weep;  thou  shalt  be  held  responsible  for  all  thy 
acts,  whether  committed  in  love,  in  hatred,  or  in  de- 
spair. Then  wilt  thou,  like  one  overtaken  by  night, 
seek  this  path  which  I  would  have  thee  choose  to- 
day ;  each  step  aside  from  it  will  lead  thee  nearer  to 
thy  destruction.      Erlefried,  think  of  thy  soul!  " 

The  young  man  looked  up  in  astonishment;  the 
last  words  were  like  a  knife  through  his  heart  and 
his  evil  demon  asked  him  if  his  soul  were  really 
saved  or  belonged  to  the  devil.  Wahnfred  noticed 
his  hesitation,  and  with  blazing  eyes  he  continued: 

"And  think  of  her  whom  thou  hast  chosen.  Bring 
thy  bride;  she  is  like  a  flower  in  the  snow,  she  is  an 
angel  among  the  damned ;  save  her  for  God.  Give 
her  heaven  as  a  wedding-gift,  for  only  in  heaven  are 
marriages  made — never  forget  that,  my  son !  Oh, 
do  not  let  thyself  be  deceived;  the  world  is  lost,  all 
is  over!  I  will  lead  thee,  we  will  enter  the  heavenly 
kingdom  together!" 

Erlefried  now  recognised  what  was  speaking  to 
him  ;  in  the  face  of  madness  he  became  calm  and  he 
sought  to  escape  from  the  weird  visionary.  Wahn- 
fred trembled  with  excitement,  and  seizing  the 
young  man  with  both  arms  he  cried  :  "Away,  away, 
thou  hellish  devil!  I  will  have  my  child,  I  will  not 
let  him  go.  Oh,  stand  by  me.  Heavenly  Powers! 
Ye  angels  of  God,  stand  by  me! " 

A  madman !  Erlefried  exerted  his  whole  strength, 
and  hurling  the  crazed  man  from  him  he  fled. 

Upon  the  summit  of  the  hill  he  stopped  and 
looked  back,  but  he  no  longer  saw  his  father.  And 
now  an  unspeakable  sadness  overcame  him,  a  heart- 


The  Expiation  4^5 

rending  pity  for  the  poor  man.  He  returned  to  look 
for  him  by  the  stream  that  he  might  accompany  him 
to  his  house,  but  he  had  already  gone. 

Sadly  Erlefried  went  on  his  way,  resolving  that 
for  love  of  his  father  he  would  go  to  the  dedication 
of  the  temple  upon  the  Johannesberg.  And  he 
made  the  proposal  to  Sela  that  they  should  combine 
their  own  wedding  festival  with  this  ceremony. 

"  For  thy  sake,"  she  replied. 

"  I  thank  thee,"  he  said,  his  eyes  beaming  with 
happiness;  "and  now,  Dear-heart,  laugh  and  be 
merry  again ! " 

"  I  cannot,"  she  whispered,  laying  her  head  upon 

his  breast;  "  my  Erlefried,  I  am  afraid! " 
30 


CHAPTER   XI 

ON  the  evening  before  the  festival  Wahnfred 
was  alone  in  the  temple.  He  had  locked 
himself  in,  and  was  cowering  before  the  altar  table 
gazing  at  the  heavy  beams  of  the  roof.  With  the 
exception  of  an  occasional  crackling,  creaking  sound 
in  the  fresh  wood,  all  was  silent.  Wahnfred  stared 
like  a  man  in  a  dream — with  a  wandering,  restless 
glance — up  at  the  seven  little  round  windows 
through  which  the  pale  light  of  the  departing  day 
shed  its  soft  rays.  He  murmured  the  words:  "  '  Be- 
hold, he  Cometh  with  the  clouds ;  and  every  eye  shall 
see  him,  and  they  also  which  pierced  him ;  and  all 
kindfeds  of  the  earth  shall  wail  because  of  him. 
His  countenance  was  as  the  sun  shining  in 
his  strength.  .  .  .  His  eyes  were  as  a  flame  of 
fire.  .  .  .  And  he  had  in  his  right  hand  seven 
stars ;  and  out  of  his  mouth  went  a  sharp,  two-edged 
sword.'  He  is  the  first  and  the  last.  I  do  not  fear, 
for  I  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death." 

Then  he  rose,  climbed  the  ladder  against  the  wall 
to  the  cross-beam,  to  which  he  fastened  a  chain  of 
straw  that  reached  to  the  altar  below,  suspended  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  chain  from  which  usually 
hangs  the  altar  lamp.     It  was  broad   and   loosely 

466 


The  Expiation  467 

braided  and  Wahnfred  addressed  it  with  these 
words : 

"  Thou  art  the  sacred  Jacob's  ladder,  by  which 
we  must  climb  to  heaven — to-morrow — to-morrow 
shall  the  seals  be  broken ;  like  a  closed  book  shall 
the  earth  disappear!  " 

He  shuddered  and  started.  It  was  as  if  he  had 
heard  a  cry:  "  Wahnfred,  what  art  thou  doing  ?" 

He  asked  aloud :  "  Did  someone  call  me  ?  I  will 
willingly  give  an  account  of  myself.  We  are  an  in- 
iquitous people.  Every  breath  which  we  draw  is  a 
crime.  No  one  but  Almighty  God  can  stop  our  fall 
into  hell.  So  we  come  to  Thee,  O  God!  Even  as 
I  took  the  oath,  so  I  will  now  make  the  expiation 
— I  will  extinguish  the  fire  of  hell  with  the  fire  of 
earth,  I  will  free  the  land  from  the  scourge  of  our 
presence.  The  scorpion  which  has  been  held  pris- 
oner within  the  ring  of  flame  shall  destroy  itself. 
They  will  say  of  us  that  we  had  grown  mad,  but 
they  cannot  say  that  we  perished  in  darkness.  We 
recognised  that  we  were  evil  and  we  have  exterminated 
ourselves.      That  is  our  victory  !  " 

When  he  left  the  temple  he  was  calm.  He  felt 
the  summer  about  him  and  within  him.  He  had 
reached  his  goal — at  last — at  last !  His  weary  head 
rested  in  the  arms  of  God. 

During  the  following  night  at  that  small  hour 
which,  like  a  tiny  drawbridge,  joins  to-day  with 
to-morrow,  three  men  were  striding  through  the 
dewy  valley  of  the  Trach,  singing  the  following 
song: 


468  The  God  Seeker 

Fair  Midsummer  Day  is  come, 

The  blessed  day  ! 

The  golden  day  ! 

Arise, 

Arise  at  the  dawn's  first  ray ! 

From  graves  emerging, 

From  slumbers  holy, 

The  guests  beloved  assemble  slowly. 

Fire  and  light  our  God  doth  make. 

Awake,  awake  ! 

And  in  all  the  huts  and  caves  were  movement  and 
life.  But  the  people  could  no  longer  assemble  as 
formerly  upon  the  oak-shaded  burial-ground,  where 
under  the  green  sod  their  beloved  dead  were  resting. 
The  graveyard  was  overgrown  with  nettles  and 
brambles.  In  recent  years  the  dead  had  been  buried 
wherever  they  had  died.  In  walking  over  the  mead- 
ows and  through  the  woods  many  a  spot  could  be 
seen  where  upon  a  mound  of  bare  earth  an  upright 
board  was  placed.  Thus  Trawies  had  become  one 
great  burial-ground.  But  the  mounds  were  soon 
covered  by  weeds,  the  boards  fell  over  into  the  grass, 
and  all  traces  of  the  graves  were  lost  for  ever. 

So  no  one  now  called  as  of  old:  "  My  father,  I 
waken  thee;  Midsummer  Day  is  come!  " 

On  being  aroused  from  their  sleep  the  people 
called  for  brandy.  Among  those  who  joined  the 
procession  were  the  peasant  Isidor,  the  hunter  from 
the  Trasank,  Stoss-Nickel,  and  Ursula,  the  distiller 
of  the  poison.  Women  clad  in  rags  accompanied 
them,  not  towards  the  Wildwiese,  but  up  the  Jo- 
hannesberg  where  the  new  temple  was  to  be  dedi- 


The  Expiation  469 

cated  on  this  day.  There  were  musicians  among 
them,  although  their  instruments  brought  forth  no- 
thing but  discordant  tones;  the  very  strings  were 
mourning  that  all  harmony  had  disappeared  from 
Trawies.  Torches  were  moving  here  and  there  in  a 
zigzag  line  towards  the  Johannesberg. 

There  was  one  thing  lacking  which  on  former  oc- 
casions had  enlivened  this  festival ;  but  its  loss  was 
scarcely  noticed  now.  There  was  no  merry  troop 
of  children  present.  There  were  no  more  children 
in  Trawies;  the  few  who  were  running  about  were 
little  wretches. 

The  procession  moved  on  towards  the  new  temple. 

"  If  we  do  not  go  our  stern  master  will  cast  us  out 
of  Trawies,"  jeered  one  man. 

"  And  the  masters  outside  will  send  us  back 
again,"  answered  the  others. 

"  It  looks  as  if  it  were  going  to  be  uncomfortable 
for  us  again.  Here  we  must  kneel,  and  out  there 
we  must  hang;  he  is  as  much  of  a  devil  as  the 
other." 

"  Be  thankful  that  we  have  a  God  again!  " 

"  This  cursed  thing  won't  burn !  "  cried  one  of  the 
men,  throwing  his  smoking  torch  upon  the  ground. 

"  Oh,  he  '11  burn  you  fast  enough,  you  old  sin- 
ner!" 

"  A  sinner,  did  you  say  ?  Now  that  seems  more 
like  living.  Things  have  been  rather  bad  here  these 
last  years,  for  there  have  been  no  sinners  in  Trawies." 

"  That  's  true!  Nothing  but  robbers  and  villains." 

"It  will  be  better  now,  only  we  shall  haye  to  b? 
good  and  pious," 


470  The  God  Seeker 

Such  were  the  conversations  which  took  place  on 
the  way. 

Erlefried  had  chosen  an  isolated  forest  path.  He 
climbed  the  mountain  with  his  Sela  from  the  Ges- 
tade.  Here  they  met  no  one,  here  they  were  alone. 
Even  Bart  was  not  with  them ;  he  had  gone  with 
Sandhok  and  Tropper  to  consult  with  them  about 
the  service  in  the  temple.  Although  at  first  he  had 
been  much  opposed  to  the  new  teaching,  to-day  he 
was  in  favour  of  it.  He  saw  the  good  influence  it 
had  upon  the  people.  The  Trawiesers  were  like  a 
swarm  of  flies  that  seek  out  and  circle  about  a  flame. 
And  it  was  a  great  point  gained  to  assemble  them 
about  some  central  object  where  they  could  be 
governed. 

During  these  years  of  misfortune  Bart  had  en- 
deavoured to  quiet  his  own  conscience  by  work  and 
a  virtuous  life.  Now,  as  he  was  growing  old,  and 
as  he  saw  in  Trawies  this  longing  for  the  supernat- 
ural again  showing  itself  in  the  people,  and  in  him- 
self as  well,  he  suddenly  heard  an  inner  voice 
saying:  "  Bart-from-Tarn,  thou  also  wast  one  of 
them^"  He  too  had  been  present  in  the  Raben- 
kirche  when  the  murder  of  the  priest  was  planned, 
he  too  was  present  in  Weissbucher's  house  when  they 
had  denied  knowledge  of  the  murderer.  He  was 
one  of  the  chief  criminals,  and  to  expiate  his  crime 
innocent  men  had  been  beheaded  in  the  church. 
/-  As  the  people  were  assembling  about  the  building 
on  the  mountain,  the  morning  star  rose  over  the 
Trasank.  They  were  blinded  by  their  torches  and 
did  not  see  it.     They  were  screaming  like  a  crowd 


The  Expiation  47 1 

of  mad  urchins,  laughing,  wrestling  with  each  other, 
and  cursing.  The  quietest  of  all  were  the  pick- 
pockets, and  the  most  excitable  the  sallow-faced 
youths  who  were  following  the  women.  Over  their 
brandy-bottles  many  marriages  were  arranged,  and 
death-blows  were  frequently  exchanged. 

Bart  attempted  to  stop  the  drinking. 
You  would  take  away  our  fire-water !  "  screamed 
one  of  the  wildest.  "  We  '11  strangle  you,  you  old 
blasphemer!  Our- God  is  in  the  brandy,  do  you  not 
see?"  He  emptied  the  contents  of  the  jug  on 
the  ground,  threw  a  lighted  chip  upon  it,  and  a  blue 
flame  rose  from  the  burning  liquid. 

Thus  the  people  were  conducting  themselves  on 
this  day  upon  the  Johannesberg,  at  the  hour  when 
the  temple,  which  they  were  about  to  dedicate,  was 
standing  in  the  pale  light  of  the  approaching  dawn. 
A  sudden  silence  fell  upon  the  crowd.  Wahnfred, 
accompanied  by  a  number  of  old  men,  was  ascend- 
ing from  his  house,  carrying  the  sacred  relic — the 
ancestral  fire. 

The  mood  of  the  people  changed  at  once.  Big- 
otry, with  its  fanaticism  and  extravagance,  took  the 
place  of  cursing  and  laughter.  They  fell  on  their 
faces,  their  arms  stretched  out  before  them.  Women 
went  into  convulsions — for  they  had  been  drinking. 
They  screamed  their  hymns  to  the  fire,  and  amid 
the  noise  and  confusion  of  the  moving  multitude  it 
was  like  the  cry  of  shipwrecked  mariners  overtaken 
by  a  storm.  Two  men  with  staffs  now  forced  a  way 
through  the  crowd  for  Wahnfred.  He  wore  a  long 
mantle,  and  the  little  lantern  with  the  eternal  fire 


472  The  God  Seeker 

he  pressed  close  to  his  heart.  The  soft  glow  was 
reflected  for  a  moment  in  the  wild,  haggard  faces  of 
the  kneeling  men  and  women.  Thus  Wahnfred  en- 
tered the  temple,  and  behind  him  the  people,  push- 
ing, crowding,  laughing,  and  cursing,  until  the  last 
one  was  inside.  And  then  the  little  door  closed 
with  a  snap.  The  glow  of  the  lamp  with  the  sacred 
fire,  which  was  being  carried  to  the  altar,  quivered 
on  the  walls.  The  next  moment  a  tiny  flame  was 
creeping  up  the  hanging  chain  of  straw. 


CHAPTER   XII 

ERLEFRIED  and  Sela  were  still  wandering 
through  the  forest.  They  carried  no  torch, 
they  held  each  other's  hands,  and  they  spoke  no 
word.  Not  until  they  reached  a  clearing  where  they 
could  see  the  morning  star  did  Erlefried  realise  that 
they  had  missed  their  path.  Sela  had  the  utmost 
confidence  in  him.  She  thought  of  that  Midsummer 
Day  years  ago,  when  as  children  they  had  climbed  to 
the  Wildwiese.  Then,  too,  they  had  lost  their  way 
among  the  brambles.  At  that  time  little  Erlefried 
had  told  her  such  pretty  fairy-tales.  How  changed 
was  everything!  As  he  had  grown  in  the  strength 
and  beauty  of  his  manhood,  the  more  silent  had  he 
become.     To-day  he  said  nothing. 

They  had  gone  much  too  far  to  the  left  and  at 
their  right  were  only  steep  precipices.  So  they 
ceased  to  think  of  the  Johannesberg  and  pushed 
ahead.  They  followed  one  another,  neither  know- 
ing whither. 

The  trees  stood  in  the  morning  glow,  the  birds 
were  singing  gaily.  The  path  led  towards  the  val- 
ley once  more  and  gradually  lost  itself  in  under- 
brush. 

The  two  young  people  were  quite  alone,  with  the 

473 


474  The  God  Seeker 

exception  of  the  birds.  They  walked  silently  among 
the  trees,  they  became  entangled  in  brambles,  they 
trod  upon  the  bushes,  frightening  the  lizards  at  their 
feet.  They  worked  their  way  through  hazel-bushes, 
which  grew  more  and  more  luxuriantly  about  them 
— and  we  will  follow  them  no  farther.  Of  this  for- 
est walk  the  chronicler  tells  us:  "  And  they  were  so 
absorbed  in  one  another  that  they  thought  of  naught 
else,  for  they  were  filled  with  heavenly  joy." 

In  vain  we  listen  for  their  footsteps,  in  vain  we 
await  their  return.  And  while  we  are  thus  listen- 
ing, a  strange  sound  seems  to  fill  the  air.  It  is  as 
if  chords  were  drawn  above  the  heights  from  rock 
to  forest,  and  an  unseen  hand  were  playing  a  wild, 
discordant  strain  upon  them.  One  long,  shrill 
sound,  then  all  is  silent ! 

In  the  gorge  below,  where  a  moss-grown  path  led 
up  to  the  house  of  Firnerhans,  the  two  young  peo- 
ple emerged  from  the  thicket.  Their  faces  were 
suffused  with  a  soft  glow,  their  hearts  trembled  with 
inward  bliss,  as  if  they  had  seen  Him  Who  from 
eternity  to  eternity  bestows  happiness  upon  His 
children.  They  were  still  silent.  Sela's  eyes  were 
downcast;  Erlefried  raised  his — moist  and  lustrous 
— towards  heaven,  wondering  that  the  sun  was  al- 
ready so  high  and  that  it  was  so  red  to-day.  Above 
the  summit  of  the  Johannesberg  rested  a  lurid  cloud, 
which  spread  over  the  sky,  on  to  the  upper  Trach, 
where  it  floated  like  a  blue  veil  above  the  church  of 
Trawies,  then  sank  into  the  valley. 

When  they  reached  the  clearing  below,  they  could 


The  Expiation  475 

see  that  the  cloud,  dense  and  heavy,  was  rising  from 
the  summit  of  the  Johannesberg,  as  if  a  volcano  had 
broken  out  there. 

Erlefried  turned  pale.  He  saw  no  building  on  the 
mountain. 

Only  one  of  all  those  who  climbed  the  Johannes- 
berg to  celebrate  the  Fire  Festival  on  that  fateful 
Midsummer  Day  ever  returned.  In  telling  the  story 
of  what  he  had  there  beheld  he  was  seized  with 
madness  and  all  traces  of  him  were  soon  lost. 

Erlefried  and  Sela  fled  as  far  as  their  feet  would 
carry  them.  On  distant  meadows,  where  no  dark 
smoke  covered  the  sun,  they  began  their  new  life. 

During  a  sultry  night  in  the  summer  of  this  same 
year  a  heavy  storm  descended  upon  the  Johannes- 
berg. It  whirled  the  ashes  on  the  summit  into 
the  air  and  scattered  them  far  and  wide  over  the 
green,  uninhabited  forests  of  Trawies. 

THE  END 


THE  FOREST  SCHOOLMASTER 

By   PETER  ROSEOQER 
Authorized  Translation  by  Frances  E.  Skinner 


A  Human 
Document. 

J\r.  y.  Times. 


Unique, 
Strong, 
Interesting. 

Buffalo  CofHtmrcial. 


Beautiful, 
Strong. 

Chicago  Times-Herald. 


/\rO  better  selection  could  have 
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popular  Austrian  novelist  to  Eng- 
lish readers.  It  is  a  strange  sweet 
tale,  this  story  of  an  isolated  forest 
community  civilized  and  regenerated 
by  the  life  of  one  man. 

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care  for  good  literature  fail  to  make  ac- 
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of  the  forest. — Pittsburg  Post. 

As  an  exposition  of  primitive  human 
nature  the  book  excels. 

Worcester  Spy 

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brary *'  No.  54.     Paper,  50  cents.     Cloth,  Si.oo. 

The  author  of  "  Uncle  Jack's  Executors  "  has  given  evidence 
of  the  same  delicate  humor  and  delightful  imagination  in  "A 
Crazy  Angel"  that  permeated  her  earlier  creations.  These  quali- 
ties enable  her  to  sketch  a  heroine  who  should  take  a  high  place 
among  the  characters  of  fiction.  In  the  first  chapters  of  the  book 
descriptive  of  the  "  Angel's  "  early  childhood.  Miss  Noble  shows 
an  understanding  of,  and  a  sympathy  with,  the  heart  of  a  child 
that  puts  her  on  a  par  with  such  writers  as  Kenneth  Grahame.  As 
a  companion  for  a  summer  afternoon,  or  a  winter  evening  either, 
' '  A  Crazy  Angel "  is  worth  cultivating. 


Katherine  Day 


By  ANNA  FULLER,  author  of  "  Literary  Courtship," 
"A  Venetian  June,"  etc.     12°.     $1.50. 

A  New  England  novel  peopled  with  vivid,  cogent  person- 
alities, marked  by  profound  character  analysis  and  skilful  plot, 
and  told  with  the  grace  and  charm  which  have  made  Miss  Fuller 
one  of  the  most  popular  American  writers. 

"  Few  portraits  in  fiction  equal  this  of  Katherine  for  charm,  for  complete- 
ness, for  simple  convincing  truth,  "  a  book  which  admirably  bears  the  severe 
test  of  a  second  reading." — JV.  V.  Commercial  Advertiser. 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

NEW  YORK  LONDON 


GOOD  FICTION 

The  Death  of  the  Gods 

By  Dmitri  M£rejkowski.  Translated  by  Herbert  Trench. 

12° $1.50 

"  Must  be  admitted  to  the  select  circle  of  really  great  historical  novels." 
— London  Chronicle. 

"  A  wonderful  Russian  romance." — N.  Y.  Times. 

"  A  creation  of  higher  order  than  either  "  Ben  Hur,"  or  "  Quo  Vadis." 
— Comtnercial  A  dveriiser. 


In  Our  County 


Stories  of  Old  Virginia.      By  Marion  Harland,  author  of 

"  Some  Colonial  Homesteads,"  "  Where  Ghosts  Walk," 

.  etc.     8°.     Illustrated $1.50 

The  ten  sketches  in  this  volume  combine  to  afford  a  deeply 
interesting  glimpse  into  the  social  life  of  Virginia  before  the 
war.  There  is  every  mood  in  the  book's  pages  —  the  merry, 
the  tragic,  the  pathetic  —  all  portrayed  in  Marion  Harland's 
charming  style.  These  are  hardly  to  be  called  sketches, 
however  ;  they  have  more  than  the  interest  that  pertains  to  a 
mere  picture  of  old  Virginia  country  life.  They  are  stories, 
possessing  the  qualities  that  the  ideal  short  story  should 
possess,  including  intense  interest  of  plot. 

The  Marriage  of  Mr.  Merivale 

By  Cecil  Headlam,  author  of  "  The  Story  of  Nuremberg," 
"  The  British  Satirists,"  etc.     12°     .         .         .        $1.25 

A  new  novel  of  importance  by  an  English  writer  of  note,  is 
"  The  Marriage  of  Mr.  Merivale."  Remarkable  originality, 
coupled  with  a  deeply  original  problem  of  the  heart  that  is 
presented  to  the  reader  for  solution,  makes  the  story  one  to 
be  remembered.  English  politics  during  the  exciting  discus- 
sions of  the  South  African  question  furnish  the  book's  only 
historical  material,  for  the  time  of  the  action  is  to-day,  and 
some  of  the  scenes  are  on  the  floor  of  Parliament.  Mr.  Cecil 
Headlam,  the  author,  has  handled  his  plot  in  masterly 
fashion,  from  the  exciting  cricket  match  in  the  opening 
chapter  to  the  wider  field  of  his  hero's  maturer  effort. 

New  York  —  G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS—  London 


By  C.  L.  ANTROBUS 


QUALITY  CORNER 

A  STUDY  OF  REMORSE 


o 


12"      ...      .      ;i>i.so 

"  For  humor  and  observation,  and  poetry  and  culture,  you  may  ap- 
proach Mrs.  Antrobus  with  perfect  cjnhdence.  ...  We  have  hinted 
that  certain  qualities  in  Mrs.  Antrobus  recall  George  Eliot ;  but  seriously 
in  pages  such  as  those  which  describe  the  scene  of  the  confession,  we  are 
not  at  all  sure  that  the  new  writer  is  not  distinctly  at  certain  moments  on 
the  great  forerunner's  level.' — Outlook. 

'A  welcome  oasis  in  the  desert  of  fiction.  .  .  .  The  setting  is 
excellent,  the  Lancashire  rustics  are  delightful.'— London  Spectator. 

'  From  beginning  to  end  .  .  .  one  realises  with  gratitude  that  a 
novelist  of  no  small  power  is  giving  us  of  her  best.  We  can  recommend 
this  book  with  an  unusual  certainty  of  pleasing.'— Z,zV^ra#«>-^. 


WILDERSMOOR 

12°  ...  .  $1.50 

'  An  excellent  story,  laid  in  an  interesting,  rarely-described  part  of 
Lancashire :  it  contains  plenty  of  good  talk  and  two  or  three  characters 
unmistakably  living.  The  story  moves  swiftly  .  .  .  and,  while  the 
style  is  bright,  the  dialogue  sparkling,  there  is  an  undercurrent  of  solemn- 
ity and  tragedy.  More  than  once  "  Wildersnioor"  reminds  one  of  George 
Eliot.  But  the  likeness  is  not  that  of  a  copy.  The  author  has  seen  the 
little  world  into  which  he— or  probably  she-admits  us  and  gives  us  not 
merely  pictures  with  hard  photographic  accuracy  but  a  sense  of  the  firma- 
ment abo\  e  and  the  nether  regions  below  the  dwellers  near  Wildersmoor 
Pike.' — London  Times. 

'A  good  novel ;  perhaps  we  should  rather  say  a  good  book.  For  it  is 
its  exceflent  workmanship,  its  shrewd  and  often  thoughtful  remarks,  us 
group  of  characters  rather  than  any  one  particular  person  .  .  .  that 
interests  us.' — Standard. 

'The  "sombre  genius  of  the  moor"— to  borrow  the  writer's  own 
phrase— is  brought  home  by  many  happy  touches,  and  the  Lancashire 
dialect  is  handled  with  considerable  effect.  The  rustic  characters,  again, 
are  well  Attx^vi.' —Athenteum. 

'The  character-drawing  is  exceptionally  good.  .  ._.  Mrs.  Antrobus 
has  written  a  suggestive  and  most  readable  book,  which  has  plenty  of 
good  work  in  it,  and  compels  one  to  \^\'cCls..^— Academy. 


Q.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 

NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 


